Pilots Union Files Lawsuit Over Merger With American Airlines

By Steve Shadley
Published: Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - 5:37pm
Updated: Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - 5:38pm
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The merger between Tempe-based US Airways and American Airlines has led to a lawsuit. A US Airways union is suing over which pilots get seniority as the two airlines combine their services. The US Airways Pilots Association has filed its case in federal court alleging that unions with both airlines cannot agree on pilot seniority.

The merger was made official in December, but there are still some legal issues that need to be settled as US Airways joins Texas-based American. In the lawsuit, the US Airways pilots union has requested a federal arbiter to help the two sides reach a compromise. The suit cites a federal law passed in 2007 after American Airlines placed Trans World Airlines employees at the bottom of the seniority list when the two airlines merged. But, the American Airlines union said that law does not apply to this dispute.

Representatives with both airlines have declined to comment on the lawsuit.