"United's mechanics union chief rips CEO statement"

Friday, February 4, 2005

United's mechanics union chief rips CEO statement 
The Associated Press


The head of United Airlines' mechanics union assailed the carrier's chief
executive Thursday for saying the company is prepared to go to trial if
necessary to achieve the labor cost reductions it needs to exit bankruptcy.

O.V. Delle-Femine, national director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal
Association, said CEO Glenn Tilton's comments in a recorded message to
employees constitute a threat that undermines negotiations between AMFA and
United parent UAL Corp.

"His rhetoric only exacerbates and inflames the tensions and distrust our
members already have towards UAL management," he said. "He is signaling that
UAL does not intend to engage seriously in the give-and-take of negotiations
because he has a different endgame strategy in mind: the court system."

The union leader's comments set a hard-line tone as the two sides try to
work out a contract agreement.

A bankruptcy judge on Monday imposed short-term wage and benefit cuts on the
mechanics after they rejected the airline's latest contract offer last week.
The cuts took effect this week immediately and expire in May.

United is holding separate negotiations with the union representing its
public contact and ramp and baggage workers, who also had short-term cuts
put in place last month.

Tilton told employees Tuesday: "If we cannot reach ratifiable agreements on
permanent cost savings with AMFA and the IAM, we will then go to trial. This
is the hard work that we have to do."

An AMFA spokesman had said initially Tuesday that Tilton's remarks contained
nothing new or inflammatory.


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