Airline appeals to workers, and promises discipline

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004 | 10:59 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA -- US Airways is trying to recruit volunteers willing to work for free over the New Year's weekend at Philadelphia's airport in order to avoid a repeat of a Christmas fiasco that left the struggling airline with too few workers to fly its planes and process baggage.

Separately, the airline warned employees it would review the attendance records of those who called in sick over the Christmas holiday -- and to discipline workers who abused the sick time system.

In a message to its employees Tuesday, US Airways sought volunteers willing to give up their New Year's Eve plans and work as customer greeters, ramp agents or baggage sorters. The request seeks workers only at Philadelphia, a major hub for the Arlington, Va.-based airline.

While the volunteers will not be paid for extra shifts, employees will be paid for regularly scheduled work, US Airways spokesman David Castelveter emphasized Wednesday. Company executives and managers would be taking part in the volunteer program, he said.

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