Exclusive: US Airways Flight Attendants Reach Tentative Contract Deal

CHARLOTTE, N.C.(TheStreet) -- US Airways (LCC) and its flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.

In March, 75% of US Airways flight attendants rejected a tentative contract agreement in a ratification vote, but union leaders said Wednesday that a new deal has been reached.

The deal preserves job protections in the existing contract with flight attendants at US Airways and extends those protections to flight attendants at the former America West, which merged with US Airways in 2005. It also increases compensation, union leaders said in a message to members.

"In the current industry environment and our management's focus on a new merger, we took very seriously our responsibility to bring you an agreement that you could vote on," the leaders wrote. "We knew it was important to give you the chance to lock in improvement and, most importantly, the ability to lock in protections in a single contract with a better foundation for our next agreement."

Following the contract rejection in March, the union surveyed members on needed improvements. That survey led union negotiators to focus on compensation, job security and work rules.

-- Written by Ted Reed in Charlotte, N.C.

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