The Machinists (IAM) and the Transport Workers (TWU) have reached a partnership to jointly represent nearly 30,000 ground workers at the “new” American Airlines following the merger of American Airlines and US Airways.

The two unions signed agreements this week to cover various segments of the merged airlines. The new labor partnership, to be known as the TWU/IAM Employee Association, will ask the federal National Mediation Board (NMB) to hold elections among the combined employees for each classification after the close of the American-US Airways merger.  

Says IAM President R. Thomas Buffenbarger:

I am proud that our two great unions put the members first in a true demonstration of solidarity. These agreements protect our members' representation, pensions and seniority. Working jointly with the TWU, we will ensure both unions' members are rewarded in this merger.

TWU President James C Little says the agreement:

allows us to use our combined strength and resources on behalf of all our members as we move forward at the new American Airlines. Both unions have decades of experience representing workers at US Airways and American Airlines, and both unions are members of the AFL-CIO.

The IAM currently represents Mechanic and Related, Fleet Service and Stores employees at US Airways; TWU represents these classifications at American. TWU also currently represents aircraft dispatchers, flight crew training instructors and flight simulator engineers at both airlines. Additionally, IAM represents maintenance instructors at US Airways.

The full agreements and a Question and Answer document are available at both the IAM website, www.usaamerger.com, and at the TWU’s website, www.twu.org.