United Mechanics Authorize Strike

Gordon Werner · 12-14-2001, 05:48 PM

Friday December 14, 4:27 pm Eastern Time

United Mechanics Authorize Strike

By David Bailey

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Mechanics at United Airlines have voted to authorize a strike in the first major labor relations test for the struggling airline industry since the Sept. 11 attacks, though White House intervention could delay a walkout for two months.

Mechanics represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 141M, who say they have worked without a pay raise since 1994, could strike as early as next Friday, when a 30-day cooling-off period ends.

However, the White House reiterated on Friday that it might intervene to delay a strike by the mechanics for 60 days on grounds that a strike would damage the economy, meaning any strike would not take place before mid-February.

"The president has made it clear that given the fragility of the airline industry and the importance of the American people's right to travel, he would look very unkindly on any action that would interfere with those rights,'' White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters.

The chief negotiator for the mechanics, Scotty Ford, said the authorization to strike sends a clear message.

"Your vote has sent a very loud and important message, all the way to the White House," Ford said in a statement on a union Web site. "You have just given us a very powerful tool that we intend to use."

United spokesman Joe Hopkins said the air carrier does not expect any disruption to customers as a result of the vote.

Shares of UAL Corp. fell 49 cents, or 3.2 percent, to $14.72 on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, as airline stocks in general slumped due to rising oil prices, analysts said.

The 15,000 United mechanics voted 99 percent in favor of striking the nation's second-largest airline, a unit of UAL Corp. Balloting was Thursday and the results were released on Friday.

United and other air carriers continue to lose millions of dollars a day following the September attacks that killed nearly 3,300 people. Air traffic has not recovered fully since four hijacked airliners, including two from United, were crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.

Ray Neidl, an airline analyst at ABN Amro, said that a mechanics' strike would likely shut down United, hurt ticket sales and be generally devastating for the airline. But he added that a strike is not necessarily imminent.

The machinists and United have negotiated for two years to no avail, and no talks are currently scheduled. The sides were thought to be near agreement before the Sept. 11 attacks, but progress has stalled as United vies to survive after losing a record $1.16 billion in the third quarter.

After mechanics rejected an arbitration offer in November, the National Mediation Board recommended that President Bush create a special Presidential Emergency Board to address the dispute. Bush indicated through his spokesman that he will create a board to make recommendations.

"Based on a recommendation from the National Mediation Board and comments from the White House, we expect there will be a Presidential Emergency Board," Hopkins said.

United gave pilots a huge pay raise last year and now wants to avoid another costly contract, analysts have said.

John Creighton, UAL's new chief executive, has opened financial books to the unions and told employees repeatedly that everything is on the table as the airline tries to restore profitability, including concessions from the unions.

Former CEO James Goodwin was ousted after unions complained bitterly about a letter he sent to employees warning the air line could perish next year.

ed. note: what ... are they insane? its not like UAL is healthy right now!

Forrest Tohill · 12-14-2001, 06:14 PM

Industries, and companies within those industries, have cyclical earnings. Good times and bad times. Some cycles are good, some are bad. Now is bad dogh! And it has been for a long time.

No raisey since 1994? Cry me a river. Bad cycle, no raisey's. Pilots got lucky. Shoot Sherlock, in the 1980's my industry was taking pay cuts for christ sake. My earnings stayed level for many years and even decreased for a couple. Overall increases stayed well below the inflation rate for some 12 years (it has more than doubled in the last 5 thank Allah, oops). If they don't like it - change frickin' industries. Or work for Southwest.

Ahh Braniff's organized labor... if only... .

12-14-2001, 06:23 PM

Uh oh....

Wingman · 12-14-2001, 08:40 PM

If you want to talk about a bone-head move, this is it.

I sure hope the union is not serious. Of all the half-a$$ moves to pull in a time like this.

If the United mechanics are stupid enough to strike, then United deserves to go out of business. My only concern deals with those employees who were smart enough to put their fights off for another time.

I see TWA all over again.

DeltaFlot · 12-14-2001, 09:10 PM

I'm glad I am flying home on Northwest and not United. I real don't want to be stuck in Hawaii when all my family is in Georgia

ewerhan · 12-14-2001, 10:02 PM

Forrest,

As an aircraft mechanic the only thing that really keeps me in this industry is my love of aviation and the sense of accomplishment that I get when I solve some problem on the plane and get it back out in service. This can be said of many who work as A&Ps in the industry.

There has been a continuing question that has been raised by a avaition maintenance trade magazine that asks; 'How much pay is enough?' Unfortunately, pay can not totally compensate those of us who are dedicated to this industry for the hours we work and the responsability that we take for the work that we do. When I sign off a job, my name and reputation stay with that job until someone else works on it again.

Eric Werhan
A&P/Avionics - US Airways Express- CCAir
CLT

Steven De Lisser · 12-15-2001, 01:14 AM

Everyone deserves to be compensated fairly. Next to the pilot, there job is the most important and they desrve to be compensated fairly. Furthermore, they probably are underpaid as a group of highly skilled labourers.

Acknowledging all of this, I cant believe they would be so stupid as to comprimise their own future in order to get a few dollars an hour more.

Steven

ewerhan · 12-15-2001, 10:14 AM

Steven,

You have a good point there concerning the timing. The contract that I and my fellow mechanics has been opened for negotiation, but due to an annoucement from the airline division of our union we are not doing any negotiations on it. When a couple of us saw the the announcement about the contract being opened, we were wondering what the union was thinking since we could see that there was no reason to try and get any changes.

Eric W

12-14-2001, 05:48 PM	#1
Gordon Werner Insane Collector Join Date: Jun 1998 Location: Somewhere else Age: 37 Posts: 2,059	United Mechanics Authorize Strike Friday December 14, 4:27 pm Eastern Time United Mechanics Authorize Strike By David Bailey CHICAGO (Reuters) - Mechanics at United Airlines have voted to authorize a strike in the first major labor relations test for the struggling airline industry since the Sept. 11 attacks, though White House intervention could delay a walkout for two months. Mechanics represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 141M, who say they have worked without a pay raise since 1994, could strike as early as next Friday, when a 30-day cooling-off period ends. However, the White House reiterated on Friday that it might intervene to delay a strike by the mechanics for 60 days on grounds that a strike would damage the economy, meaning any strike would not take place before mid-February. "The president has made it clear that given the fragility of the airline industry and the importance of the American people's right to travel, he would look very unkindly on any action that would interfere with those rights,'' White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters. The chief negotiator for the mechanics, Scotty Ford, said the authorization to strike sends a clear message. "Your vote has sent a very loud and important message, all the way to the White House," Ford said in a statement on a union Web site. "You have just given us a very powerful tool that we intend to use." United spokesman Joe Hopkins said the air carrier does not expect any disruption to customers as a result of the vote. Shares of UAL Corp. fell 49 cents, or 3.2 percent, to $14.72 on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, as airline stocks in general slumped due to rising oil prices, analysts said. The 15,000 United mechanics voted 99 percent in favor of striking the nation's second-largest airline, a unit of UAL Corp. Balloting was Thursday and the results were released on Friday. United and other air carriers continue to lose millions of dollars a day following the September attacks that killed nearly 3,300 people. Air traffic has not recovered fully since four hijacked airliners, including two from United, were crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field. Ray Neidl, an airline analyst at ABN Amro, said that a mechanics' strike would likely shut down United, hurt ticket sales and be generally devastating for the airline. But he added that a strike is not necessarily imminent. The machinists and United have negotiated for two years to no avail, and no talks are currently scheduled. The sides were thought to be near agreement before the Sept. 11 attacks, but progress has stalled as United vies to survive after losing a record $1.16 billion in the third quarter. After mechanics rejected an arbitration offer in November, the National Mediation Board recommended that President Bush create a special Presidential Emergency Board to address the dispute. Bush indicated through his spokesman that he will create a board to make recommendations. "Based on a recommendation from the National Mediation Board and comments from the White House, we expect there will be a Presidential Emergency Board," Hopkins said. United gave pilots a huge pay raise last year and now wants to avoid another costly contract, analysts have said. John Creighton, UAL's new chief executive, has opened financial books to the unions and told employees repeatedly that everything is on the table as the airline tries to restore profitability, including concessions from the unions. Former CEO James Goodwin was ousted after unions complained bitterly about a letter he sent to employees warning the air line could perish next year. ed. note: what ... are they insane? its not like UAL is healthy right now!

12-14-2001, 06:14 PM	#2
Forrest Tohill Master Collector Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Dallas, Texas, USA Age: 51 Posts: 713	Industries, and companies within those industries, have cyclical earnings. Good times and bad times. Some cycles are good, some are bad. Now is bad dogh! And it has been for a long time. No raisey since 1994? Cry me a river. Bad cycle, no raisey's. Pilots got lucky. Shoot Sherlock, in the 1980's my industry was taking pay cuts for christ sake. My earnings stayed level for many years and even decreased for a couple. Overall increases stayed well below the inflation rate for some 12 years (it has more than doubled in the last 5 thank Allah, oops). If they don't like it - change frickin' industries. Or work for Southwest. Ahh Braniff's organized labor... if only... . Last edited by Forrest Tohill; 12-14-2001 at 06:37 PM.

12-14-2001, 09:10 PM	#5
DeltaFlot The Patriot Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Laurel, MD Age: 36 Posts: 3,228	I'm glad I am flying home on Northwest and not United. I real don't want to be stuck in Hawaii when all my family is in Georgia __________________ Febuary 15, 1898 December 7, 1941 June 8, 1967 September 11, 2001 Never Forget, Never Forgive If you kick the Tiger in the arse, you better be able to deal with the Tiger's teeth.

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12-14-2001, 06:23 PM	#3
ccdj747400 Guest Posts: n/a	Uh oh....

12-14-2001, 08:40 PM	#4
Wingman Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Bangor, ME Age: 34 Posts: 429	If you want to talk about a bone-head move, this is it. I sure hope the union is not serious. Of all the half-a$$ moves to pull in a time like this. If the United mechanics are stupid enough to strike, then United deserves to go out of business. My only concern deals with those employees who were smart enough to put their fights off for another time. I see TWA all over again.

12-14-2001, 10:02 PM	#6
ewerhan Junior Collector Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Gastonia, NC USA Age: 40 Posts: 42	Forrest, As an aircraft mechanic the only thing that really keeps me in this industry is my love of aviation and the sense of accomplishment that I get when I solve some problem on the plane and get it back out in service. This can be said of many who work as A&Ps in the industry. There has been a continuing question that has been raised by a avaition maintenance trade magazine that asks; 'How much pay is enough?' Unfortunately, pay can not totally compensate those of us who are dedicated to this industry for the hours we work and the responsability that we take for the work that we do. When I sign off a job, my name and reputation stay with that job until someone else works on it again. Eric Werhan A&P/Avionics - US Airways Express- CCAir CLT

12-15-2001, 01:14 AM	#7
Steven De Lisser Master Collector Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 783	Everyone deserves to be compensated fairly. Next to the pilot, there job is the most important and they desrve to be compensated fairly. Furthermore, they probably are underpaid as a group of highly skilled labourers. Acknowledging all of this, I cant believe they would be so stupid as to comprimise their own future in order to get a few dollars an hour more. Steven

12-15-2001, 10:14 AM	#8
ewerhan Junior Collector Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Gastonia, NC USA Age: 40 Posts: 42	Steven, You have a good point there concerning the timing. The contract that I and my fellow mechanics has been opened for negotiation, but due to an annoucement from the airline division of our union we are not doing any negotiations on it. When a couple of us saw the the announcement about the contract being opened, we were wondering what the union was thinking since we could see that there was no reason to try and get any changes. Eric W