Pilots take aim at United

More than 100 United and Continental Airlines pilots and flight attendants armed with signs protesting working conditions greeted shareholders arriving at the annual meeting Wednesday morning in Elk Grove Village.

Pilots who cooperated with United by taking pay cuts when the company declared bankruptcy in 2002 deserve to share in more prosperous times, officials with the Air Line Pilots Association said.

“We’ve seen a lot of talk but we’re not seeing any changes,” United pilot and union spokesman Herb Hunter said.

Grievances include additional hours, demotions, outsourcing United Express flights and salary reductions. As an example, a 747 pilot who made $280,000 a year in 2001 is being paid about $160,000 now and working 15 more hours a month.

“We continue to work with all employee groups, including pilots in good faith to develop contracts that are fair to employees and fair to the company,” United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said.

Palatine resident and veteran United pilot Walt Philips was among those picketing. “We have made drastic concessions,” he said. “It’s time the concessions we gave to keep the company afloat were recognized.”