A United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner is prepared for a flight at O’Hare International Airport. (Getty)
A Change.org petition filed by “Our UnitedRetired” on behalf of “dedicated active employees and retirees of United Airlines” . It also demands he step down from the Board of Directors of United Continental Holdings.
At the center of the petition is the outsourcing of jobs, which the petition calls “a cancer that must be stopped.” It also calls Smisek out for cutting costs at the expense of services and taking steps that damage retirees — all actions the group claims to be contrary to Smisek’s sworn testimony before Congress, when he said the 2010 merger between Continental and United would have no “significant effect on employment on frontline jobs.”
“It will provide them with good jobs — careers, and not just jobs; and retirements, secure retirements, and not just hope. It will provide us with the synergies that will permit us to continue to invest in our employees. And I have made it very clear that the wealth creation of this merger, that I intend to share that with all work groups, whether they are unionized or not,” , according to Congressional records.
On Monday, .
When asked if these potential outsourcing plans run contrary to Smisek’s 2010 promise, United spokesman Luke Punzenberger declined to comment.
Russ Shumake started his ramp service career with United 20 years ago in Denver, eventually transferring to Detroit Metro Airport. When United outsourced his unit’s work to contractor ATS last year, he opted to take a furlough instead of transferring to another airport.
Now, he said, many people who opted to uproot their families and transfer to other airports for work may be getting stuck by the company again.
“Word now is that United is set to continue the outsourcing in the other stations that were on a list, which means my fellow displaced Detroit workers could now be displaced from the stations they transferred TO,” he said. “Where they going to go? Where am I going to go, should I need to return to United?”
United has been under increased scrutiny in Denver after issues with lost luggage, delayed flights and a chaotic baggage-claim area have gone on for weeks.
The , and airport CEO Kim Day has personally reached out to the airline to offer assistance.
Contrary to what the Change.org petition reads, the issue has not appeared on any Denver City Council meeting agenda.
