I’ve had a few people asking about why American Airlines unions would be interested in US Airways at all.  It’s a fair question and one that I touched upon last week.   There is a simple answer:

Seniority

American Airlines’ unions and, specifically, the APA, APFA and TWU who are on the unsecured creditors committee of AA’s bankruptcy all are made up of very senior people.  Senior even for the airline industry.  Way, way senior.

Their perception is that in a merger, more of their membership will survive a seniority integration against members of similar unions representing US Airways East and US Airways West employees.  In fact, it’s the former America West aka US Airways West employees who likely fare the worst in such a merger.  Oddly enough, they’re also the most “successful” and “productive” of the three potential groups.

Furthermore, allowing US Airways merger talk to continue in the media keeps the heat on American Airlines management during the bankruptcy.  It’s leverage, plain and simple.   From the perspective of the AA unions, they have really nothing to lose at this point in exercising that leverage.

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