700+ Could Get Walking Papers

United is looking for seven hundred or so flight attendants who want to retire. If they don't step up voluntarily, they'll be drafted.

The AFA says that, "Additional flight reductions and service changes have resulted in a surplus of Flight Attendants and the Company is facing a potential involuntary furlough situation. Beginning February 22, 2003, the Company needs to reduce its Flight Attendant population by an additional 704 (active and inactive) Flight Attendants. This will bring the total furlough number to approximately 4210 Flight Attendants. The company has agreed with us upon a number of options to help offset involuntary furloughs through voluntary furloughs and partnership flying. If there are no volunteers for furlough, Flight Attendants junior to system seniority... could be involuntarily furloughed."

United is looking for ways to convince the bankruptcy judge that its operating plan will clearly show an operating profit. Having reduntant headcount still on the payroll, without customers who need them, would not look good; and United's reduced schedule has made its workforce disproportionately large.

Who's next?

Future cuts could be expected in maintenance and inspection personnel, for the above reason, and for one other: as United pares its fleet, the oldest, most-labor-intensive airplanes are the first to go. Since newer aircraft, in general, require less repair work, fewer mechanics in general, and those mechanics who specialize on the older machinery particularly, could soon expect similar treatment. Since so much of the procedure is based on seniority, though, it's likelier that the longer-tenured mechanics will stay, regardless what type of aircraft is their specialty. However, the short-time, 727 or DC-10 guys [are there any?] should be working on their training and resumes -- at least until United gets approval on its Plan.

FMI: www.unitedafa.org