=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2003/12/17/f= inancial0328EST0016.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, December 17, 2003 (AP) Union, Airlines said to have worked out new contract offer (12-17) 00:28 PST PHOENIX (AP) -- The union representing 1,700 America West pilots said they had hammered out a new contract proposal with the Tempe-based airlines. Membership is expected to head to the polls starting Friday to cast their vote on the proposal, about two weeks after another proposal was defeated by just five votes. Union and America West officials emphasized that no additional money was put on the table under the latest offer. Instead, changes will be funded by changes in pilots' hours. Terry Stadler, chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association unit and an America West captain, said key changes in the newest offer include the extension of long-term disability payments from age 60 to age 65. Under a 1995 contract, the age is 65 but the recently rejected offer wou= ld have lowered it to age 60. "The pilots had a great amount of concern over that reduction," said Doug Dotter, chairman of the negotiating committee. The latest contract offer also provides that pilots aged 55 or older will not have a new "bridge" retirement benefit reduced by a signing bonus. Under the previously rejected offer, the benefit was offset by the bonus amount, a $12,000 contribution to the 401(k) for captains and $7,500 for first officers. In addition, the new proposal calls for pilots receiving a bigger share = of productivity bonuses. The two sides have been in contract negotiations for more than 3 1/2 years. The previous contract offer was the second voted down this year and fail= ed by just five votes; 725 were opposed to the offer while 720 voted in favor of it. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003 AP