This was my prediction, or maybe it was hope: once everyone started to calm down about the psychology of “the split,” adult behavior would start to come to the surface. Here we have at least one example: The Teamsters and Communications Workers of America have reached a deal to jointly represent workers when the merger between U.S. Air and America West is completed.

As a reminder, to the casual reader, the Teamsters withdrew from the AFL-CIO, while the CWA remains inside the AFL-CIO. Seems to me if this can be figured out, should be quite easy to come up with local labor council cooperations and other such coordinated activity.

Of course, this does side step one issue: I still think there are way too many unions in the airline industry and it would have been better for one union to perhaps say, “we’ll step aside and you take this on.” But, I’ll take half a loaf on this and kudos to Jim Hoffa and Larry Cohen for making the deal.

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Teamsters, Communications Workers Agree
To Jointly Represent Passenger Service Agents
At Merged US Airways and America West

(Washington, D.C.) — The Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters today announced a proposed alliance to jointly represent passenger service agents at US Airways when the merger of America West and US Airways is completed.

The proposal to create a new Airline Customer Service Employee Association – IBT/CWA will be presented to members of the two unions for their approval, reported Teamsters President James Hoffa and CWA President Larry Cohen.

CWA represents 6,000 passenger agents at US Airways currently, and IBT represents 3,500 agents at America West. The employees work as reservations, ticket and gate agents, and also staff hospitality clubs at airports and assist handicapped passengers.

“By working together, we can build a strong, unified passenger service group and protect and improve conditions for employees that both unions represent at US Airways,” said CWA’s Cohen.

“This joint effort will result in strong representation for all workers at the newly merged airline,” Hoffa said. “As the industry endures continued economic uncertainty, this agreement will ensure that nearly 10,000 workers are united in their fight for fair treatment and job security.”

CWA currently has a contract at US Airways whose conditions remain in effect by law, while the IBT now is in bargaining for a first contract at America West, where employees unionized last year.

The future goal of the association is to improve salaries and conditions for America West and US Airways employees.

In day-to-day representation, CWA will continue to represent workers in the eastern, largely US Airways locations, and the Teamsters will represent those in the western states where America West mainly operates.

The pact calls for the presidents of the two unions to alternate in heading up the association, with Cohen initially serving as director for the first year and Hoffa as vice director. CWA and IBT will each designate an equal number of representatives from their local unions to form a US Airways Representation Committee to meet at least four times a year on workplace issues and policies of the association. All policy questions must be jointly approved.