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.