US Airways and TWU Reach Agreement for Dispatchers ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 545, representing approximately 150 dispatchers, have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract that supports US Airways' transformation to a low-cost carrier. Details of the agreement were not disclosed, pending the TWU's communication of the agreement to its members, but the company said that the pact meets the cost-savings targets established for the work group, and represents a fair balance of productivity and work rule, pay and benefit changes. "This was not an easy decision to make and one that will require great personal sacrifice, however, we believe it is essential to the long-term survivability of our company and in the best interests of our members," said Don Wright, president of TWU Dispatchers Local 545. "We appreciate the leadership that the dispatchers have shown in stepping up and reaching an agreement," said Jerrold A. Glass, US Airways senior vice president of employee relations. "From the earliest discussions about our Transformation Plan, the TWU dispatchers have consistently acknowledged the structural and permanent changes in the airline industry, and are doing their part to help return US Airways to profitability. In particular, the work the dispatchers have been doing in the fuel conservation area has been very beneficial to the company." The ratification is expected to be completed within two weeks and requires approval by the bankruptcy court. Glass said that meetings with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and two other TWU groups continue. He stressed that the company's Chapter 11 filing on Sept. 12 makes it all the more imperative to reach agreements quickly with all groups. "The ATSB, our creditors and our financial partners all want to see more than progress, they want to see results that show we will achieve the labor cost reductions that are necessary." DATASOURCE: US Airways CONTACT: David Castelveter, +1-703-872-5100, for US Airways Web site: http://www.usairways.com/

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