While that phrase is generally associated with the disaster of 9/11, it has
another meaning to many people affected by the "strategic" bankruptcies of the airlines.
The "Never Forget" meaning in this case is to never forget why we, as pilots at United and Continental,
have the current contracts and compensation "agreements".
It was with a gun to our heads, a gun created by mgmt., lawyers and bankers, to agree to the current contracts.
When the lawyers and bankers admit the bankruptcy was a strategic tool to lower costs at the employee's expense,
how can we do anything other than expect industry leading agreements compared to these manipulated agreements?
We are at a historic crossroads where our bargaining position may never be better.
Mgmt. knows that. We need to start behaving consistent with that knowledge also. No exceptions.
No matter how many exec.-employee days, media promises, company letters or coffee machines and granola bars in ops.
If we don't stand, in unison as the new United pilots, for an industry leading contract in scope, pay and work rules,
we have only ourselves to blame this time for the failure and resulting sub-leading contract.

Listen closely to what the lead UAL lawyer says about strategy, compensation and the bankruptcy.
And what he says about why it took 2 1/2 years. It wasn't a legal or banking delay, it was to "adjust expectations" and
to get where "people would buy into it" "without losing the hearts and minds of the employees" ie.
it took time to "condition" you to accept that what they were manipulating and doing was acceptable.
And the "silent elephant" in the room, the pensions, were what UAL ALPA traded the 70 seat RJ's away to try to save.
This manipulated bankruptcy allowed the company to get the RJ's, and then
go back and take the "silent elephant", the pensions, anyway but keep the RJ's.
And note that the bank got 100% back plus interest plus fees. Note the bonuses
mgmt. got to compensate for their "negotiated" reduction in pensions.
Remember that when you vote for anything sub-leading when the proposal from ALPA comes out.
Remember "industry average" is only in relation to post bankruptcy manipulated contracts.
I think they used a F/A for the side interview because a pilot would have been too angry to show on prime time television.
My co-workers in the cockpit and I sure would have been.
Never forget where our current manipulated scope, pay and work rules situation and
the industry's current manipulated contracts came from.

frontline: can you afford to retire?: watch the full program | PBS