US Airways immediately responded with a declaration that it would shut down operations on March 25 if no agreement had been reached. The union describes CHAOS as anything from mass, intermittent, or rolling strikes, to rallies and protests and an extensive media campaign.

"US Airways continues to demand that flight attendants accept a package of cuts that it calls 'parity plus 1 percent,' even though posting profits in excess of $2 billion over the last five years," the AFA explained February 29. "However, the airline has refused to fully define that package of cuts in contract talks, including never putting a wage proposal on the negotiating table for flight attendants to consider." In addition, the union said, "US Airways hasn't provided flight attendants raises in over four years and refuses to apply the Family and Medical Leave Act to flight attendants. Sixteen contract sections remain unresolved, including pay, benefits, retirement and work rules."

Charging the AFA's intent is to pressure the company by "eroding the confidence of our customers and demoralizing the other employee groups," the letter declares the company is left with no choice but to shut down, an action they explain, could "lead to the furlough of many employees."

Darrell Howerton, a flight attendant for 10 years based in Philadelphia, explains why flight attendants are so adamant against parity: "We can't put our livelihoods and work rules in the hands of four other carriers with so many unknowns. Delta flight attendants have no union and Northwest and American have no contracts." Wolf "is trying to bust our union," Howerton says, "but he can't do it. We had a 99 percent strike vote last December because we're fed up."

There is no question, however, that the company's divisive campaign has confused many US Airways workers and sapped the spirit of solidarity. Some union members argue that since they accepted the parity scheme then so should the flight attendants. But others can see through these antiunion moves and realize that any fight that challenges the company's concessionary demands can only benefit all workers at US Airways.

"The unity that the flight attendants are showing is really important," says Philadelphia utility worker Janine Love. "It's certainly better than what we had with our contract negotiations. That unity is what they need to get what they deserve."

The AFA believes that the purpose of the company's announcement of a shutdown March 25 is to position itself for seeking White House intervention through the use of a Presidential Emergency Board. This way US Airways could achieve an agreement that is "arbitrated and imposed, rather than negotiated and ratified," states a letter from Lynn Lenosky, president of the AFA US Airways Master Executive Council.

Rebecca Arenson and Nancy Cole are members of the International Association of Machinists and work at US Airways in Philadelphia.  
 
 
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