Originally Posted by
gettinbumped
AFA issued statement;
“Oscar Munoz has presented a vision for United Airlines that passengers and employees can believe in. Even during his recovery and sick leave, Munoz engaged meaningfully in repairing labor relations and getting Flight Attendant contract negotiations on track to conclusion. Our union has worked with a lot of management teams over seven decades and we have rarely experienced a CEO as engaged or committed to the success of an airline.
“Oscar is moving United Airlines out of the era of struggling airlines and a failed merger to a vision of shared purpose that provides hope and excitement for the future of the airline. He has barely had the opportunity to put his plan into effect, but already we are seeing results. These investors are creating a distraction at just the wrong time if their interest is truly in turning around United and building an airline that will again lead the industry with performance, profits, share price and importantly, engaged employees who take pride in the place where they work.
“Oscar Munoz is shaping up to be the best CEO at United Airlines since William Patterson. Flight Attendants support his efforts to return United Airlines to world-class, premier status.”
AFA represents 24,000 Flight Attendants at United Airlines.
This is a short term view and an incorrect correlating of events. Munoz did not move us forward. Smisek was holding us back like a gorilla sitting on a puppy. Once he was gone a huge five-year weight was lifted, the employees could breath again, and they started moving back to their natural state of enthusiasm for working at a possibly great airline. That Munoz was out of commission the entire time that the numbers were improving shows that even an empty block at the top of the org chart was better than one with Smisek's name in it.
Bethune is a pilot if nothing else--he wants to make the most money with the least work. With Smisek gone, CEO success over the next couple of years will be like taking candy from a baby. Bethune can sidle in, watch us rise while he yuks it up, take credit and leave with another $50m. In fact, someone has told me he's already written his new book, "From Flailing to Flying."