United union seeking strike OK
Flight attendants await contract ruling
By David Kesmodel, Rocky Mountain News
November 15, 2004
The union representing United Airlines' flight attendants is asking members to authorize a strike if a federal bankruptcy judge cancels the union's contract with the beleaguered carrier.
The move follows a proposal by United earlier this month asking the union to grant $137.6 million in annual wage and benefit cuts and work-rule changes.
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The airline proposed another $587 million in annual cutbacks to its other unions.
United said it wants to negotiate the reductions by mid-January as part of its efforts to emerge from bankruptcy. But it signaled it would ask a judge to void existing union contracts and impose new terms if negotiations fail.
The Association of Flight Attendants' leadership told members in a message on its Web site Sunday that United has proposed contract changes that "are neither necessary to a successful reorganization nor fair and equitable," including about 1,000 job cuts.
The union said that, while it will meet with United to discuss contract changes, it believes "United management will remain fixed upon a strategy of overreaching, will not negotiate in good faith and will seek judicial intervention to achieve its unnecessary, unfair and inequitable goals."
The union didn't say when it would send out strike-authorization ballots.
A union spokeswoman, Sara Dela Cruz, said she would not comment beyond the message to members, adding that it "speaks for itself."
In a similar situation at US Airways, which also is in bankruptcy, a union representing reservation agents has threatened a strike.
Jeff Green, a United spokesman, said Sunday night that the carrier remains committed to hashing out an agreement with the attendants' union to achieve the cost savings it requires. In its proposals to its unions, the giant airline set savings targets but said it was open to different ways of reaching the objectives.
"We are eager to sit down directly with the AFA to discuss options they would like to propose," Green said.
United, the main operating unit of UAL Corp. and Denver's largest carrier, has been in bankruptcy almost two years. It is seeking a total of $2 billion in further reductions to its annual operating expenses, citing pressures from high fuel prices and low airfares.
About $1.3 billion of the new annual cuts would come from ending traditional pension plans and chopping non-labor expenses.
Chicago-based United has proposed cutting flight attendants' pay by 10.2 percent, of which 4 percent would be temporary. It also has proposed cuts to sick-leave pay and vacation benefits.
Flight attendants await contract ruling
By David Kesmodel, Rocky Mountain News
November 15, 2004
The union representing United Airlines' flight attendants is asking members to authorize a strike if a federal bankruptcy judge cancels the union's contract with the beleaguered carrier.
The move follows a proposal by United earlier this month asking the union to grant $137.6 million in annual wage and benefit cuts and work-rule changes.
Advertisement
The airline proposed another $587 million in annual cutbacks to its other unions.
United said it wants to negotiate the reductions by mid-January as part of its efforts to emerge from bankruptcy. But it signaled it would ask a judge to void existing union contracts and impose new terms if negotiations fail.
The Association of Flight Attendants' leadership told members in a message on its Web site Sunday that United has proposed contract changes that "are neither necessary to a successful reorganization nor fair and equitable," including about 1,000 job cuts.
The union said that, while it will meet with United to discuss contract changes, it believes "United management will remain fixed upon a strategy of overreaching, will not negotiate in good faith and will seek judicial intervention to achieve its unnecessary, unfair and inequitable goals."
The union didn't say when it would send out strike-authorization ballots.
A union spokeswoman, Sara Dela Cruz, said she would not comment beyond the message to members, adding that it "speaks for itself."
In a similar situation at US Airways, which also is in bankruptcy, a union representing reservation agents has threatened a strike.
Jeff Green, a United spokesman, said Sunday night that the carrier remains committed to hashing out an agreement with the attendants' union to achieve the cost savings it requires. In its proposals to its unions, the giant airline set savings targets but said it was open to different ways of reaching the objectives.
"We are eager to sit down directly with the AFA to discuss options they would like to propose," Green said.
United, the main operating unit of UAL Corp. and Denver's largest carrier, has been in bankruptcy almost two years. It is seeking a total of $2 billion in further reductions to its annual operating expenses, citing pressures from high fuel prices and low airfares.
About $1.3 billion of the new annual cuts would come from ending traditional pension plans and chopping non-labor expenses.
Chicago-based United has proposed cutting flight attendants' pay by 10.2 percent, of which 4 percent would be temporary. It also has proposed cuts to sick-leave pay and vacation benefits.
:angry: 
