United is not a pleasant place in itself. If Continental comes in and lavishes all of their lovely salaries and benefits upon them, well, yeah, they'll cheer up. But how much? Those are some unhappy employees.
FWIW,
Just a guest on here and a UA employee/pilot at that but I thought I'd set a couple things straight. First, I understand that many at US are upset and frustrated by the recent events. But don't let that cloud your thinking.
Obviously I don't speak for all UA employees so I'll let those that see things differently post their replies if they care to. I've been a UA pilot for a bit over 19 years. In that time I've seen spirits rise and fall and rise again with the developments in the industry post-9/11. While certainly there are those here at UA who are upset with their personal circumstances, in my travels and days on the job I can honestly say it's a much better place than you just characterized. You're not here so you'll never really know.
Let's admit it, we're all partial to "our brand". Whether it be our sports team, school, city, state, etc. In this regard those of us at an airline are no different. Just like in a family, we know all too well both our good and bad points. Same applies here. We'll all see in the months and years to come how well this merger with CAL goes.
For one, I'm very optimistic that it'll be just fine. Most I've flown with over the past few years are very much pumped about such a merger and look forward to making this the best we possibly can with our new fellow employees from CAL.
I wish US and their employees well and the very best in the future. I'm certain that with many of the great people and attitudes they have that you'll have a bright future.
Cheers,
Z B)
Zman, you only quoted part of my post. My position is not to denigrate UA. I simply recognize that UA, like US was put through the ringer after 9/11 and relations between labor and company at both companies is at an all time low. Both companies are holding tenaciously to Bankruptcy contracts squeezing every last penny from coerced by bankruptcy workers. To join the two together would have just meant more misery for all labor on both sides.
Throw in our intractable pilot situation, which indirectly originated with a UA end run to protect their seniority in the event of a merger back in 2000, by changing ALPA bylaws, and the whole thing would have been ugly. Falls under the heading of "Two wrongs don't make a right".
You're cheerful? Uh, yeah, guess so. CAL has a history of treating its employees WELL. I'd be hopeful too if we'd merge with them. I would not have been hopeful in the event of a merge with UA. So I guess I agree, you got the pretty girl, but let's hope she prevails, because I am not of the opinion that UA was the "pretty boy" any more than US is a "pretty girl".
I wish you the best. I am glad for you. I'm glad for me too!
