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Maverick union raps United
Organization seeking to unseat Machinists criticizes vote delay
By David Kesmodel, Rocky Mountain News
April 23, 2003
A maverick union seeking to represent United Airlines'' mechanics said the carrier is shamelessly wasting money by seeking to delay a representation vote by six months.
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association wants to unseat the International Association of Machinists as the bargaining agent for the 10,300 mechanics.
The union filed a request for an election with the National Mediation Board in March. United on April 1 asked the board to delay evaluating the request by 180 days. The airline said the representation dispute could undermine its efforts to reorganize in bankruptcy court.
The carrier has elected to shamelessly squander its self-described scarce economic resources by bringing a frivolous motion to delay an election, AMFA attorneys said in a written response to United''s action.
AMFA is not affiliated with the AFL-CIO, an umbrella union organization. AMFA represents mechanics at Southwest Airlines and Northwest Airlines and has long coveted United''s mechanics, including the 830 in Denver.
The union has said an election could come in June if the National Mediation Board rules that a majority of workers filed genuine signature cards in support of a vote. The board oversees the industry''s labor relations.
Attorneys for Chicago-based United said the representation dispute would inevitably impose substantial distractions and financial pressures on the carrier at a time when it faces steep financial hurdles.
The IAM has said AMFA''s foray marked a potentially fatal distraction.
The mediation board continues to study the case, a spokesman said.
The IAM and United reached a tentative agreement on long-term concessions for mechanics April 11. The rank and file will vote on the deal, which calls for a 13 percent pay cut and other changes, on Tuesday.
If AMFA were to win representation of the workers, it would inherit any contract that mechanics ratified under the leadership of the IAM. AMFA also would inherit any court-ordered pact.
Separately, Reuters news agency, citing an unnamed source, reported that United should be able to meet the terms of its bankruptcy financing next month.
Four banks agreed in December to provide up to $1.5 billion in so-called debtor-in-possession loans. The banks required that the airline meet strict monthly cash-flow targets.
A United spokesman had no comment on Reuters'' report.
Sources told the Rocky Mountain News last week that the banks were impressed by the airline''s progress in bankruptcy court and appeared likely to give it some breathing room even if it failed to hit certain targets.
[email protected] or (303) 892-2514
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Maverick union raps United
Organization seeking to unseat Machinists criticizes vote delay
By David Kesmodel, Rocky Mountain News
April 23, 2003
A maverick union seeking to represent United Airlines'' mechanics said the carrier is shamelessly wasting money by seeking to delay a representation vote by six months.
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association wants to unseat the International Association of Machinists as the bargaining agent for the 10,300 mechanics.
The union filed a request for an election with the National Mediation Board in March. United on April 1 asked the board to delay evaluating the request by 180 days. The airline said the representation dispute could undermine its efforts to reorganize in bankruptcy court.
The carrier has elected to shamelessly squander its self-described scarce economic resources by bringing a frivolous motion to delay an election, AMFA attorneys said in a written response to United''s action.
AMFA is not affiliated with the AFL-CIO, an umbrella union organization. AMFA represents mechanics at Southwest Airlines and Northwest Airlines and has long coveted United''s mechanics, including the 830 in Denver.
The union has said an election could come in June if the National Mediation Board rules that a majority of workers filed genuine signature cards in support of a vote. The board oversees the industry''s labor relations.
Attorneys for Chicago-based United said the representation dispute would inevitably impose substantial distractions and financial pressures on the carrier at a time when it faces steep financial hurdles.
The IAM has said AMFA''s foray marked a potentially fatal distraction.
The mediation board continues to study the case, a spokesman said.
The IAM and United reached a tentative agreement on long-term concessions for mechanics April 11. The rank and file will vote on the deal, which calls for a 13 percent pay cut and other changes, on Tuesday.
If AMFA were to win representation of the workers, it would inherit any contract that mechanics ratified under the leadership of the IAM. AMFA also would inherit any court-ordered pact.
Separately, Reuters news agency, citing an unnamed source, reported that United should be able to meet the terms of its bankruptcy financing next month.
Four banks agreed in December to provide up to $1.5 billion in so-called debtor-in-possession loans. The banks required that the airline meet strict monthly cash-flow targets.
A United spokesman had no comment on Reuters'' report.
Sources told the Rocky Mountain News last week that the banks were impressed by the airline''s progress in bankruptcy court and appeared likely to give it some breathing room even if it failed to hit certain targets.
[email protected] or (303) 892-2514
