AWA America West Holdingsb

Teamster Members Voice Concerns at America West Airlines Meeting Workers Raise Issues of Possible Merger, Potential Conflicts of Interest TEMPE, Ariz., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, Teamster mechanics and customer service representatives raised concerns to management and the board of directors at the America West Airlines, Inc. (NYSE:AWA) 2005 shareholders meeting. The workers' concerns ranged from potential conflicts of interest over loans to a former CEO to anxiety over the airline's possible merger with US Airways. "As a 17-year employee who has been through bankruptcy and reorganization many times, I deserve to know where my future lies," said Kimberly Barbaro, a Teamster member and AWA ticket agent, in her question directed to America West chairman and CEO Doug Parker. The Teamsters Union wants America West Airlines to negotiate contracts that will protect the job security of its workforce in the event of a merger with US Airways. The union represents more than 4,000 aircraft maintenance technicians, customer service representatives and stock clerks at America West. "If there is a formal announcement of any type of merger between America West Airlines and US Airways, we will fight for our members' rights and negotiate protections on their behalf," said Andy Marshall, Secretary- Treasurer of Teamsters Local 104 in Phoenix. Another of the workers' concerns was the potential conflicts of interest involved in the company's loan to former CEO Bill Franke. "Bill Franke was able to borrow $1.7 million in the 1990s to pay for earned income through company stock," Teamsters Union Representative Bernadette McCulloch said. "Doesn't AWA see this as a conflict of interest?" Parker responded that the company has implemented a policy to no longer grant loans to employees. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States and Canada. DATASOURCE: International Brotherhood of Teamsters CONTACT: Andy Marshall of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, +1-602-524-1277 Web site: http://www.teamster.org/

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