Published:
United Issues Statement on ALPA Hearing
CHICAGO, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Airlines today will
begin presenting its case in a federal court to stop the Air Line Pilots
Association (ALPA) and certain pilots from engaging in deliberate, organized
and unlawful job actions that have harmed customers, employees and the
company.
Today, Chief Administrative Officer Pete McDonald, who will be the
company's first witness, issued the following statement.
"I have been with United for nearly 40 years, and I am proud of this
company and what all of our people working together have accomplished," said
McDonald. "By seeking this preliminary injunction to stop unlawful work
slowdowns, we are standing up and refusing to let our customers and employees
be used as bargaining chips by ALPA in their campaign to exert financial
pressure on this company to open their contract early."
McDonald said repeated efforts to resolve the matter with ALPA have been
unsuccessful, including increasing reserve pilot staffing and negotiating with
ALPA to modify some of the work rules in the current agreement, and the
company was left with no choice but to take legal action.
The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction against ALPA and four named
pilots for organized sick leave abuse in opposition to the company's plan to
reduce its fleet size and furlough pilots and to pressure United into
renegotiating terms of a collective bargaining agreement that remains in
effect through 2009. The lawsuit also seeks an end to a public campaign of
intimidation that discourages pilots from picking up additional flying,
effectively engaging in a slowdown. As a result of the slowdown, more than 300
flights were canceled in July, impacting some 36,000 customers and costing
United millions of dollars in lost revenue.
About United
United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) operates more than 3,200* flights a day on
United and United Express to more than 200 U.S. domestic and international
destinations from its hubs inLos Angeles,San Francisco,Denver,Chicago and
Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in theAsia-Pacific region,
Europe andLatin America, United is one of the largest international carriers
based inthe United States. United also is a founding member of Star
Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 975 destinations in
162 countries worldwide. United's 55,000 employees reside in every U.S. state
and in many countries around the world. News releases and other information
about United can be found at the company's Web site at united.com.
* Based on United's flight schedule between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31,
2008.
SOURCE United Airlines
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