United's unions seek to amend contracts, some hold protests
United Airlines' six unions are working with contracts that haven't been amended by their deadlines, leading hundreds of flight attendants and some pilots to hold protests Thursday at hubs worldwide, including at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
The Chicago-based carrier - struggling amid rising costs, a relentless recession and fewer travelers - said it has continued to negotiate in good faith. The flight attendants and pilots, in particular, said they're eager to help the airline. But they want their salaries restored to pre-bankruptcy days and more than 1,400 furloughed pilots and 1,900 furloughed flight attendants returned to work.
"It is also unacceptable for United Airlines to continue downsizing if we are to be a successful enterprise in the future. United's current tactic of shrinking to profitability has repeatedly proven to be disastrous," said United Capt. Wendy Morse, the new chairman of the United Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association.
She talked with reporters Thursday during a teleconference from the group's office in Rosemont.
Morse referred to United's ongoing streamlining to cut costs, including furloughed flight attendants and pilots, and this week's layoffs of about 260 other workers.
"Notwithstanding the challenges that exist in our industry today, we have consistently said we would like to reach mutually beneficial agreements with our unions that provide for competitive wages, benefits and work rules, enabling our employees and our company to succeed," said United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy.
The airline has continued to struggle since it emerged from bankruptcy a few years ago. The amendable date for contracts with the flight attendants expired Thursday, while the five other unions' contracts expired last week. Contracts negotiated under the Railway Labor Act do not expire, but become amendable and contracts stay in place during the continuing negotiations process, said both the unions and United management.
Management said it has been fully engaged with the unions and even spent more time negotiating with the AFA than the other unions, McCarthy said.
"We want to find an opportunity for employees to have competitive pay," McCarthy said. "But we need to improve productivity to keep us competitive in the industry."
McCarthy also added that United is one of the few airlines that allows flight attendants to alter their flying schedule and still keep their benefits in place.
"That has a large cost to United," McCarthy said.
About 800 flight attendants joined by the pilots held protest at hubs worldwide. More than 300 protested in Chicago, said Sara Nelson, spokeswoman for United's Association of Flight Attendants.
"We want United management to get down to business at the negotiating table and address the issues flight attendants have determined are important. Seven years, eight days is too long to live under these concessions," said Nelson.
Yet the difference this time, compared to years past, is attitude. The antagonism between management and the unions could be easing, both sides indicated.
Despite the struggles on both sides, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics released a report Thursday that said United was at the top of the list with on-time flights, 92 percent.
This pilot group's professionalism and expertise contributes to one of the best safety records in the world, Morse said.
"In fact, United Airlines has not had a passenger fatality due to pilot error in over 30 years. United pilots are simply as good as it gets among the world's airline pilots," said Morse. "Unfortunately, we are not treated in a manner that recognizes our continuing efforts on behalf of our customers and our company."