“Labor Relations Have Deteriorated” Say Collected Unions

The United Airlines pilots, represented by the ALPA’s United Master Executive Council, lent their voice to a wide coalition of unionized employees of the airline, raising concerns over the company’s “lacking labor standards” and “draconian” approach to discipline.

The group first pointed out its recent concerns surrounding a proposed codeshare agreement with Emirates airlines, noting that they now speak in regards to conditions inside their own home.

“Labor relations at United Airlines have deteriorated to the point that lacking labor standards halfway around the world now seem suited to describe the current situation at our own airline. At the forefront is a draconian and one-sided approach to employee investigations and discipline. Human Resources is now involved in the smallest and simplest infractions, resulting in consequences orders of magnitude worse than the deed. Most grievance cases are denied and sent up to the next level with little discretion given to local managers who best know their workforce and issues.”

In addition, the Labor Coalition, a group that includes the Teamsters, the Professional Airline Flight Control Association, the AFA, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers took particular issue with the way the carrier had been pursuing expansion without care for its employees.

“United Airlines filed a supplement to its application for a Haneda slot, which was surrendered by Delta Airlines. In this long and detailed document, United outlines the reasons it should be awarded authority to fly to Haneda from Houston…nowhere in this exhaustive brief is mention of a single benefit to United’s labor force, should United be awarded this coveted slot. In fact, the point is made that IAH-Haneda flights would not be additive, but rather a replacement for existing IAH-Narita service.”

The Coalition did not appreciate that the company’s unionized employees were asked to submit letters to the DoT in support of the Houston-Haneda authorization, saying that “such collaboration stems from relationships centered on mutual respect and fair treatment,” adding that the “current labor/management relationship falls far short of this standard.” They appear to be willing to hold the support of the Haneda move as a kind of offering, hinting that “an improved climate” between company and worker would help materialize it.

FMI: www.alpa.org/ual