After 25 months of contract talks, including 18 months of Federal Mediation, TWU dispatchers and PSA Airlines reached an agreement late last night for a first contract. The 5-year agreement, the first-ever contract for flight dispatchers at PSA, includes wage increases, a retention bonus, an improvement in holiday pay, a grievance procedure and other contract protections.

“This is a proud moment for our union and the PSA dispatchers,” said John Conley, Director of TWU Air Transport Division. “The commercial aviation industry has been hit especially hard in this economic downturn and this solid agreement provides a ray of hope for the other airline workers seeking a fair contract through the federal mediation process.”

Dispatchers at PSA voted in March of 2007 to join TWU and negotiations began in July of the same year. Contract ratification is scheduled for early next week. TWU represents a majority of dispatchers at U.S. carriers.

PSA Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of the US Airways Group and flies under the US Airways Express brand.