Even in A Tough Economy, Union Insists On Significant Contract
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As shareholders of United Airlines gather this week for the
annual United Airlines shareholders meeting, ALPA tells ANN (using
some pretty confrontational language as it postures for position)
that, 'it is incumbent upon United CEO Jeff Smisek and his
management team to thoroughly explain the facts regarding the
progress of the United/Continental merger. Much work remains to be
completed before they can proclaim the merger a success, according
to the pilots of United and Continental Airlines.'
“’On schedule’ are two words Mr. Smisek should
avoid in addressing the shareholders regarding this merger,”
said Capt. Wendy Morse, chairman of the United Master Executive
Council of the Air Line Pilots Association. “There is no
bigger task in front of United management than reaching agreement
with the pilots on a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement and this
task is nowhere near on schedule. Until an agreement is reached,
this merger cannot be considered anything close to a success.
“It’s unfathomable that, more than one year after
the announcement of the UAL/CAL merger, the company has not reached
agreement with its pilots on a JCBA. This stands in stark contrast
to how Delta and Southwest managements have handled their
respective mergers. United has moved rapidly with other aspects of
the merger, such as fleet rationalization. For reasons known only
to management, contract talks with the pilots have been at a
snail’s pace. Without an agreement with the pilots, the
company will never be able to achieve the full benefits of the
merger.”
Added Capt. Jay Pierce, chairman of the Continental Master
Executive Council of ALPA: “Management would like you to
believe that the merger is on schedule and that the promise of a
bigger airline with bigger benefits for shareholders and passengers
alike will be fulfilled sooner rather than later. As pilots we are
very familiar with the concept of ‘on-time arrival’ and
would like to point out the fact that absent an agreement on a fair
contract that reflects the critical role we play in the success of
the airline, the synergies that management has touted will
assuredly be delayed.
“We are here today to ensure that the interests of more
than 12,000 United and Continental pilots are not lost in
management’s rush to declare the merger a victory. There is a
lot of hard work remaining to reach agreement on a fair contract
that recognizes the role that pilots play in building our new
airline and enabling it to reach its full potential. A bigger
airline that lands in more places, without the support of its
pilots, is simply a bigger problem that reaches into more corners
of the world.”
The pilots have reminded shareholders that Mr. Smisek likes to
use the phrase “Working Together.” And according to
ALPA, the first step toward working together requires the company
to deliver an 'industry-leading contract.' Until that is achieved,
according to the pilots, Mr. Smisek’s claim of “Working
Together” is simply a hollow PR talking point.