United's Flight Attendants Threaten Strike
Source: Washington Post
Author: Keith L. Alexander
United Airlines flight attendants said they may begin random flight disruptions and strikes during the July 4 weekend in response to the airline's decision to turn over its pension plan to the federal government.
The threatened strikes come as United prepares for one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The airline said its bookings show that its flights are 90 percent full heading into the weekend, about 5 percentage points stronger than last year's July 4 period.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. assumed administration of the flight attendants' pension plan yesterday. By eliminating the plan, United parent UAL Corp. is changing the terms of its contract with the flight attendants, enabling them to participate in an organized job disruption, said Greg Davidowitch, president of United's flight attendants union.
"Now they've done it. United management, working hand-in-glove with the PBGC, has changed our contract without our consent. This flagrant foul has triggered our right to strike," Davidowitch said.
United spokeswoman Jean Medina said a strike or organized disruption would be illegal and could result in termination.
"We have a ratified agreement with the [flight attendants]. We don't believe this changes that," she said. If the flight attendants should strike, Medina said the airline was "prepared both legally and operationally to make sure we can meet our customers' traveling needs."
A job disruption would be the first by United workers in five years. In the summer of 2000, United's pilots refused to work overtime during a bitter contract dispute, forcing cancellation of some 25,000 United flights and inconveniencing thousands of travelers.
Sara Dela Cruz, a spokeswoman for United's flight attendants union, refused to offer details of the scope any planned action. The union has threatened for weeks to strike if the airline turned over its pension plan to the federal government. Holidays often are targeted for action by unions, but disruptions have been rare.
A disruption, Dela Cruz said, "could be a single flight, an entire city or a whole day. It's a closely guarded secret."
In its fight to block the government takeover of its plan, the union has appealed an order by a U.S. bankruptcy judge in Chicago allowing the transfer and appealed a decision by a federal judge in Washington who ruled against the union's request for an injunction to block the takeover.
Last week, members of Congress approved an amendment to a spending bill that would prevent the PGBC from using appropriated funds to take over United's pension. But before it becomes law, that amendment must also be approved by the Senate and the White House, which is less likely.
