But Those Already With Company Ain't Happy

It's a bit of good news/bad news for United Airlines. The good news is, the airline is having little problem attracting new applicants for 100 new openings for pilots.

The bad news is, those pilots already at the company have grown increasingly hostile towards management at the Chicago-based airline... and they're gonna talk about it, to anyone who will listen.

Chicago's CBS-2 reports just 10 days into United's first pilot recruitment drive since 2001, the airline reports over 1,000 applicants have submitted resumes for 100 jobs. United announced last month it would start hiring new pilots, and bring back others that had been on furlough.

The airline cites an expanding flight schedule -- at a time when other airlines are scaling back capacity -- and a growing need for international flights as justification for the hiring drive.

While the carrier is apparently not having to look too far for new hires, existing pilots continue to complain of what they see as excessive bonuses and obscenely high pay for executives at United... and they're taking their message to passengers.

The Rocky Mountain News reports pilots in Denver will conduct an 'informational picket' Monday at Denver International Airport, one of United's largest hubs.

They want to call attention to the fact United execs are living high on the hog -- including CEO Glenn Tilton, who alone pocketed an estimated $40 million in stock perks and other bonuses this year -- while pilots and other United workers gave until it hurt while the airline was in bankruptcy.

"Now the executives are lining their pockets, said Air Line Pilots Association spokesman Dave Kelly, while pilots are tied to contracts signed in bankruptcy until the end of 2009.

ALPA says pilots gave up over $1.4 billion annually from 2003 through 2010, and accepted the scrapping of their pension plans and reduced health care benefits, "to help the company avoid liquidation." It's also worth noting United posted a second-quarter profit of $274 million last week.

Despite managerial largesse and apparent fiscal health, however, representatives with the world's second-largest airline says pilots and other employees will have to lump it until their contracts come up for renegotiation -- the airline won't open talks sooner.

"What is really important for stability for our employees is that we've made United a financially sound, competitive company able to make significant investments in products, services and infrastructure," said airline spokeswoman Jean Medina.

FMI: www.united.com