Flight Attendants At United Airlines Stage Protest, Threaten Strike
Source: Agence France Presse
Flight attendants at United Airlines staged demonstrations at 17 airports on three continents to protest the loss of their pension benefits.
The union also warned of possible strike action but would not announce where or when the strikes would take place.
United turned its pension plans over to a government insurance program on June 30 as part of a plan to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The union considers the move a breach of its contract and has threatened to use disruptive protests and strikes to force a change in management.
"Current United management has held its employees and creditors hostage in Chapter 11 for nearly 1,000 days," Greg Davidowitch, president of the Association of Flight Attendants at United, said in a statement. "We're hitting the streets around the globe to demonstrate our resolve. We want our pensions back, and we want this management team out."
The flight attendants picketed and handed out leaflets at airports in: Hong Kong; Narita, Japan; Frankfurt; Paris; Boston, Massachusetts; New York, Newark, New Jersey; Chicago; Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; Palm Springs, California; Los Angeles; San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; Washington, DC; and Honolulu, Hawaii.
United responded to the union's threats Thursday by insisting that any strike would be illegal and "would not be tolerated."
"United will do whatever is necessary to ensure the continued smooth operation of the company for our customers," the Chicago-based company said in a statement.
