Pilots at US Airways will picket in Philadelphia to pressure the airline's management for a better contract, a pilots union leader said on Monday.

The demonstration, set for Tuesday at Philadelphia International Airport, is intended to convince the public and the airline that the pilots had a hand in helping the carrier achieve profits in the first two quarters of 2006, the union said.

"We're asking for the company to treat us fairly and to recognize our commitment," said Arnie Gentile, a US Airways pilot and spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Gentile said the demonstration would be conducted by ALPA leaders representing pilots who were employed by the former US Airways.

The airline was saved from likely liquidation in 2005 by a merger with America West, which adopted the US Airways name. US Airways is negotiating a contract to cover pilots from both airlines.

ALPA said that during two bankruptcies prior to the merger US Airways pilots sacrificed USD$6.8 billion in concessions. Now that the merged airline is profitable, management should recognize the pilots' contribution, Gentile said.

"There's no question that US Airways recognizes and appreciates the contribution of all its employees," said Andrea Rader, a US Airways spokeswoman.