Post date: Jul 12, 2013 5:24:28 PM
As US Airways shareholders approve a merger with American Airlines, airline workers demand better pay.
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (REUTERS) - US Airways Group Inc shareholders approved the carrier's plan to merge with AMR Corp's American Airlines, clearing another hurdle to the deal that would create the world's largest carrier.
US Air Chief Executive Doug Parker announced during the company's annual meeting on Friday (July 12) that a sufficient number of shares were cast in favor of the merger, based on preliminary results.The $11 billion (USD) merger deal was announced in February and the companies expect to complete it by the end of September, said Parker, who will be chief executive of the new American Airlines, which will be based in Texas.
The merger must still be approved by antitrust regulators and by the bankruptcy court overseeing the restructuring of AMR, which filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2011.
Across the street from the meeting, a group of protesters demanded a living wage and other benefits. The protesters were low-wage airport workers, including aircraft cleaners and passenger assistants, who say they work for minimum wage and have no job security. The protesters rallied outside the meeting to call for better pay.
"Today we are here fighting for justice, for better pay at the airport. At the airport we are being paid minimum wages which is very low, $5.25 an hour and we're struggling. There's no benefits, not even any raises. And we're working very hard and we need these things to survive," said protester John Stewart.
The protesters said they want the money made from the merger to be used to create better working conditions.