Union Claims United Sending Jobs Overseas

By Author: Steve Robinson
Total Articles: 468
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While both United Airlines and its pilot union readily recognize the importance of continuing to offer cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages, they differ on how to accomplish this.

After two years of negotiations following the merger of United and Continental on July 17th the airline’s pilots almost unanimously approved a strike. Such a strike is unlikely to take place any time soon because under the Railway Labor Act, which also applies to airlines, a strike cannot occur until after the National Mediation Board releases pilots from talks and there is a 30 day cooling off period. To date, pilots have three times requested that the board release them from further negotiations but the board has insisted on continued talks.

One of the key issues in negotiating a new contract with the pilots is the status of 1,437 United pilots who were furloughed during the last decade and are still waiting to be called back to work.

To substantiate its claim about outsourcing jobs, the union points to a daily Madrid to Washington flight that is part of United’s route network but is operated by Aer Lingus ...
... planes and crew. This arrangement, according to the union, means less work for United’s pilots.

United pilots have participated in several protests over the last year regarding the lack of progress in the talks. In May of 2011 150 pilots marched in Chicago to where United has its headquarters. In June of that year pilots protested during United’s shareholder meeting followed by over 700 pilots demonstrating on Wall Street in September.
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