Labor groups at United Airlines say they have tried negotiating with the company but that it has not worked. And some have lost trust in management.
United wants to cut employee pay, gain the ability to outsource some work and end pension plans. Flight attendants and mechanics have voted to authorize a strike, while the machinists union is taking a strike vote.
Pensions are the biggest issue for the Association of Flight Attendants.
“We have given them other ways to resolve this other than through termination of the pension plan, and they have simply refused to take that option,” said flight attendants spokeswoman Sara Nelson Dela Cruz. “Their words about working at the bargaining table are hypocritical.”
Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association spokesman Richard Turk said, “We don’t feel United is negotiating in good faith, especially with the pension. People are just so angry.
“Our big three issues are stability, commitment and trust – and we’re not seeing any of that in negotiations.”
This is the second time in United’s more-than-2-year- long Chapter 11 bankruptcy that employees are being forced to accept pay cuts.
The proposed termination of United pensions affects both employees and United’s thousands of retirees.
“Many of us are very disappointed,” flight attendant Jeff Heisey said.
“It doesn’t matter if we work for free. We’re still going to be in the same mess,” Heisey said.
Dela Cruz said the flight attendants union’s brand of intermittent strike activity – called CHAOS – does not aim to shut the airline down.
“This airline is not going to survive with this management. And if it comes to it, we will strike to save our airline,” she said.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-820-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com.
