HARRISBURG, Nov. 20, 2012 –  State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione is urging US Air to settle long-stalled contract talks with its current workers before closing a merger with American Airlines.

In a letter to Douglas Parker, CEO of US Airlines Group, Tartaglione said pursuing a merger before settling with its own workers would make it more difficult to reach long-term stability.

“If a merger between U.S. Airways and American Airlines comes to fruition, we worry that your current labor problems will be compounded, making the ratification of new U.S. Airways’ labor contracts even more unlikely,” Tartaglione wrote.  “This will put further distance between your employees and the new contracts they both desire and deserve.”

Three principle unions at US Air have been working without a new contract since the airline’s 2005 merger with America West, a period that has brought the airline record profits.  US Air stock doubled in price this year.

In pursuit of a merger with American Airlines, which would create the world’s largest air carrier, US Air reached preemptory labor agreements with three of American’s unions in April, while its current labor force continues to seek an agreement.

“It concerns us that you were able to swiftly negotiate with another airline’s unions, while at the same time neglecting the mounting labor issues within your own organization,” Tartaglione wrote.  “This leads us to believe that you place more of a priority on a merger than on the wellbeing of your own employees.”

Tartaglione, the Democratic Chair of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, was joined on the letter by state Rep. William Keller, the Democratic Chair of the House Labor and Industry Committee.

News outlets have reported that parties involved in a possible merger – the airlines, American’s creditors, and the unsecured creditor committee have met recently to negotiate the details.

US Air is a major employer in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to retain those jobs, including $264 million in lease concessions at Pittsburgh International Airport to help US Air emerge from bankruptcy in 2003.

ALL PENNSYLVANIA BUILDING TRADES MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL AND/OR FAX GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT AND TELL HIM “NO CHANGES TO STATE APPRENTICE RATIOS!”

PHONE 717-787-2500, FAX 772 8284.

The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is trying to get the Governor to reduce the apprentice to journeyman ratio to 1:1 for non-union contractors. This will create extremely unsafe work sites throughout the Commonwealth.

Non-Union apprentice programs, where they exist at all, are notorious for low graduation rates, and low rates of women and minority participation. In Pennsylvania, less than 5% of all apprentices in the state are enrolled in non-union programs. Can you imagine a project where there are 100 workers, and 50 of them are 1st year apprentices? It’s a recipe for disaster.

This is nothing but another ploy by the ABC to drive down wages even further and gain a competitive advantage through its “race to the bottom” business model. It is nothing more than an effort by a small segment of the construction industry (ABC) to use a government agency to give them an unfair advantage over responsible contractors.

IF YOU LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA, PLEASE CALL THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE (AS WELL AS YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES) ASAP. WE NEED TO STOP THIS!

Via Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO

During this Election time when we are focused on the all important task of electing our next President and other political leaders, it’s even more important to help those impacted by the devastating affects of hurricane Sally in NJ, NY, PA, Del and all other areas touched by this unthinkable natural disaster. While Organized Labor is certainly doing it’s part with the clean up and rebuilding efforts, it’s also important for us to give what ever possible to the many families who are in need due to the loss of property or even the loss of loved ones.

To help Make a Difference in the lives of those impacted by the storm, go to: http://www.redcross.org/

Attention: Philadelphia Area Labor Community,

Amongst many things, as a Labor Movement in America, it is our responsibility to work hard and provide a better product for our employers, to fight for worker’s rights, to secure fair wages, benefits and working conditions for workers, to be the voice of the middle class in this country and to unite in SOLIDARITY on election Day to ensure that we support the political leaders that support us!

On This election day,  Tuesday Nov. 6, 2012, we will literally be voting for our union livelihoods particularly when choosing our President for the next 4 years.  On one hand, you have President Barack Obama, who, although is not perfect, inherited one the most devastating economies in history 4 years ago and who has committed himself to bringing jobs back to America and who clearly supports our union standards. On the other hand, you have Mitt Romney, who has literally made it clear on video that, on Day 1, if he is elected president, he will repeal Davis Bacon, put and end to Project Labor Agreements and Fight for National Right To Work Legislation that will,  in effect and without exaggeration, help cripple the Labor Movement in America as we know it.

Do yourself a little favor if the Labor Movement and Union Standards mean anything to you, take a few minutes (3:30 seconds to be exact) to click the links below to watch 2 short videos that clearly demonstrate the seriousness of this election to the Labor Movement in America!

Please Go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nax5NdAmXDQ&feature=youtu.be for a short video by National AFL-CIO President Rich Trumpka explaining why this Election on Tuesday, November 6, is the most important election in the history of the labor Movement. (If you can not click on the link, please copy and paste it in your Address Bar and click go)

Please Go To: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq6SuTzR67A and view a video of Mitt Romney speech committing to end Project Labor Agreements, To Repeal Davis Bacon and To Fight for Right to Work Laws on Day 1 of his administration if he is elected President of the United States. (If you can not click on the link, please copy and paste it in your Address Bar and click go)

IMPORTANT – Also, if you are a member of a union, please remember to go to your union hall and ask for their list of endorsed candidates so that you can support the candidates endorsed by your union.

Is there anything left to say? Let’s Let our Vote in Solidarity be our voice on election day!

See You at the polls!

Sincerely!

PhillyLabor.com

Drexel Hill—Sheamus Bonner, currently an Army Reservist who served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and has been deployed overseas four times to places including Korea, Bosnia and the Middle East, is running for State Representative in the 163RD State House District in Eastern Delaware County. Sheamus Bonner, a Corrections Officer and member of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers’ Association (PSCOA), who had to step down from his state job while running for office in order to comply with the Hatch Act, is a Democrat who decided to run because he wants to increase public education funding, lower property taxes for working people and protect working families and union jobs.

“Whenever I walked into work, I knew my union had fought hard so I could have good wages, good benefits, and a safe work environment. I want to go to Harrisburg so that every working man and woman in Pennsylvania can have those things too,” said Bonner.

For Sheamus Bonner organized labor has been a way of life. Aside from being a union member himself, Sheamus is in the third generation of his family to belong to unions. His grandfather was an Irish immigrant and TWU Local 234 member and shop steward who worked for the Philadelphia public transit system before the formation of SEPTA. His other grandfather was a union machinist at the Philadelphia Gear Works who served as a shop steward. His father, Phillip “Knute” Bonner is a WWII veteran who fought at the Battle of the Bulge, who worked for IBEW Local 126 before a long career as a Philadelphia Police officer and FOP Lodge 5 member. After leaving the force, Sheamus’s father worked for the Pennsylvania Treasury Dept. and was a member of AFSCME. Many of Sheamus’s brothers, sisters, cousins and in-laws have been union members, belonging to unions like Plasterers Local 8, IBEW Local 98, the Carpenters, Teamsters Local 463, IAFF Local 22, FOP Lodge 5 and Lodge 19.

Sheamus Bonner’s message of job creation, protecting collective bargaining rights for all workers, and opposing right-to-work legislation and privatization has attracted many unions. Sheamus Bonner has been endorsed by his union, the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers’ Association, as well as Teamsters Local 107, Teamsters Local 312, Ironworkers Local 401, UAW Local 1069, USW Local 12698, Elevator Constructors Local 5, TWU Local 234, IBEW Local 614, APSCUF, FOP PA Lodge 112 and the Association of Civilian Technicians Chapter 52.