IAM claims win over Teamsters in airline election

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The machinists' union said Monday that it defeated a challenge from the Teamsters and will continue to represent mechanics at US Airways.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, or IAM, said that it won the election 1,903 to 1,418, or about 58 percent to 42 percent.

The election covered nearly 4,600 mechanics and other employees, although many did not vote.

An IAM vice president, Sito Pantoja, said the outcome would help workers protect pensions and seniority as US Airways prepares to merge with larger American Airlines. The IAM had claimed that the Teamsters would put pension benefits at risk.

Teamsters spokesman Bret Caldwell said that the US Airways mechanics are the lowest-paid in the industry and that they deserve better representation. He said that the defeat was separate from an ongoing election process at US Airways' merger partner, American Airlines.

US Airways is the fifth-biggest U.S. carrier. Airline spokeswoman Michelle Mohr said the company "respects the decision made today by our professional mechanic and related employees in choosing a collective bargaining agent" but would wait for the National Mediation Board to certify the IAM before resuming contract negotiations.

The Teamsters had hoped to represent more than 14,000 workers at the new company that will be formed if American Airlines and US Airways are allowed to merge. The Teamsters are still challenging the Transport Workers Union, or TWU, to represent about 11,000 ground workers at American.

The IAM and TWU joined forces to oppose the Teamsters by agreeing to share representation of both airlines' mechanics after a merger.

American Airlines parent AMR Corp. and US Airways Group Inc. hope to win approval for their merger this week from a federal bankruptcy court judge in New York. Federal antitrust regulators are also reviewing the deal amid complaints that it could restrict competition and drive up airfares.