September 5, 2012
Dear United Pilots:

Today, the CAL MEC Chairman and the JNC Co-Chairs and I met with management and the NMB in Washington DC. With the assistance of the NMB, the parties were able to resolve to conclusion some of the items left open from August 2 and items that had cropped up in language writing. There still remain several more open items to resolve. We have indicated to the NMB that we would not leave Washington while there remained any open items. Further, we requested that the resolved items be more substantive than mere bullet points to assist the JNC in completing contractual language.

The NMB has suggested that the current process with their direct involvement is working and that nothing should be used as a pretext to slow that process down. They have asked us to pull down all public expressions planned for this week. As such, I have made the difficult decision to pull down events at the White House and at the domicile airports for now.

We reserve the right to publicly express our frustration with the process anytime and anywhere. And we will do it legally. But we also do not take actions for the sake of action. We will continue to constantly evaluate if the process is indeed working. We have waited nine years for this contract, and our families are hungry. We have indicated to you before that negotiations are a rollercoaster, and the decision to publicly express ourselves, or not, has a toll on our pilots. We will not do it needlessly or without purpose; but we will do it when it is warranted. The NMB has asked that we allow the process to continue under their supervision. A war is composed of many battles; sometimes you have to choose the right ones.

Please remain engaged. Our JCBA depends on it.

We are United,

Chairman, United Master Executive Council