They're Just Waiting On A Judge's Contract Ruling

United Airlines flight attendants, angry at the company's call for another round of concessions, are on the warpath. Their union has called for a strike -- if a judge rules United can invalidate the current contract.

United earlier this month asked the Association of Flight Attendants for another $137.6 million in annual salary and benefit cuts, as well as changes in rules that govern the workplace. In all, United is asking all of its unions for concessions that total more than $587 million a year.

Sure, union leaders said, they'll meet with United managers on the proposal. But they also said, "United management will remain fixed upon a strategy of overreaching, will not negotiate in good faith and will seek judicial intervention to achieve its unnecessary, unfair and inequitable goals."

For its part, United management at least seemed open to suggestion. Spokesman Jeff Green said, while the numbers are firm, the company is open to different ways of reaching them.

"We are eager to sit down directly with the AFA to discuss options they would like to propose," Green told Denver's Rocky Mountain News.

United wants the AFA to accept a 10.2 percent cut in salary and benefits -- four percent of which would be temporary. It also wants to cut sick pay and vacation time in a move to save about $2 billion overall.

FMI: www.united.com, www.unitedafa.org