WatchThis!

Those who have been following the saga over at UAL know that morale is in the toilet and the pilots are worn out due to manpower shortages. UAL has seen a spike in runway blunders and have been damn lucky to not have had a hull loss in a few of the incidents during the past year.

Last Spring UAL in conjunction with ALPA started a "safety stand down" to address some of the operational errors. It was a program called "On The Line" that included some focus on the growing problem of pilot fatigue. One solution that was promoted was self-assessment and the responsibility to self-certify fitness for flight.

Pilots are becoming familiar with depression and anxiety disorders, and getting help identifying acute and chronic fatigue in these company sponsored events. As a result, the sick leave usage rates have apparently risen. In response, UAL has canceled all further On The Line safety seminars citing budget constraints. About half of all UAL pilots have attended.

So with this tidbit as a backdrop, enjoy UAL's latest press release.

************************************************** ***

United Takes Action to Protect Customers, Employees


United Seeks Injunction to Stop Unlawful Job Actions of ALPA and Certain
Pilots

CHICAGO, July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Airlines today filed
a lawsuit asking a federal court to stop the Air Line Pilots Association
(ALPA) and certain pilots from continuing to engage in deliberate,
organized and unlawful job actions that resulted in hundreds of flights
being canceled and impacted thousands of customers and employees.

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.

"It is absolutely irresponsible for ALPA to promote unlawful behavior,
particularly in this environment, when the industry is taking unprecedented
actions to offset record fuel costs," said Pete McDonald, executive vice
president and chief administrative officer. "Our employees are working hard
to make our company successful. We are going to ensure the integrity of our
operation and will not allow the actions of ALPA and certain pilots to
continue to harm our customers, our employees and our company."

McDonald said the company pursued every other possible resolution -- at
significant financial cost -- before pursuing litigation. These included
increasing reserve pilot staffing and negotiating with ALPA to modify some
of the work rules in the current agreement.

United also noted that the rate of first officer sick leave in certain
fleets is up 103 percent this summer. Further, driven by ALPA directives
and intimidation, picking up additional flying, as is standard practice
throughout the industry, has dropped precipitously compared to that of
previous years. In 2006, pilots were five times more likely to fly
additional trips compared to today.

"The job actions have escalated, and the impact on our customers and
employees is unacceptable, and must stop," McDonald said.

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 in Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the
Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest
international carriers based in the 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.

Past V1

I think its about time that US pilots start getting a little more apparent on how much this industry needs US!!! Without US...Birds dont fly!!! I also think when one pilot group is in trouble...then everyone should feel the heat...and we should all support each other...My pilot group is ALPA and you bet you last dollar that if this gets ugly...I will stand beside my ALPA brother and sister even though I don't fly for United........

UNITY is our strongest asset!!! If we don't stand strong next thing you know all companies will file lawsuits against pilot groups for "excessive sick calls"...you know if I don't feel good...I don't fly!!! PERIOD!!!

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!!! UNITY...lets support our United Pilot Group on this one because...I can see that this will get ugly later on for all of us!!!

weirdbiz

As I see it, the United management has taken every opportunity, literally every single one, to abuse the contract they signed with the pilots to the fullest extent possible without incarceration. It takes a lot of nerve for them to cry about pilots abusing contract provisions. Apparently they don't teach MBAs that you reap what you sow.

Polarfr8dog

Well, that all sounds good Past V1. . . . but after twenty years in the business and still learning there's only one thing that I can say:

To all managements at all airlines GO POUND SAND!!! You guys/gals think you're a genious for dragging airlines into bankruptcy then taking the multi-million dollar payout. And the others that are "genious" for driving up a stock price because your PUP is based on YOUR multi-million dollar payout -- it's going to be easier for me to replace my dwindliing airline pay with another job than to replace it with a multi-million dollar management job. I don't care how much you rob me anymore. I just know how much I'm not going to give -- end of story.

Windsor

Oh Boo Hoo Hoo..... quit crying about it. They created this $hitstorm. Deal with it.

SomedayRJ

Allow me to point out the following at this juncture:

Without the ramp, the airplanes don't fly.

Without flight attendants, the airplanes don't fly.

Without mechanics, airplanes might fly, but they sure won't fly very well.

Without customer service and agents, the airplanes might fly, but there'd be no passengers ( = no revenue).

(*cue "This Bud's For You" music*)

And so forth. (We even need management. Maybe not the current management, but some form of management.)

Moving an airliner is a team effort. I wish that the hardliners on ALL sides would stop hardlining and refocus on the core business, which is moving people from A to B faster than they can drive.

Shrek

Moderators shut down the UALMEC board...........

This is going to get interesting to say the least..........

kronan

As I see it, Mgt seems to be upset because the pilots aren't working extra days the way they used to in the past. They are only showing up for their scheduled events.

perhaps because it just isn't that much fun to work there as it used to be.

And yes, the airline needs the ramp guys.....etc. to fly, just as it does the pilots. But, I don't see many lawsuits being filed over the ramp guys not volunteering to work on their days off

Herkulesdrvr

Sorry but ALPA has screwed a lot of my buddies at other airlines. I will never support ALPA, but I do support pilots. The best way to support other pilots is to kick ALPA out. They dont care about the little people, they only care about more members equalling more dues collected. I work at a non union carrier and I hope we never get a union. Unions were born long ago and are no longer needed as they are antiquated and corrupted, just say no.

Rescuedog

Thanks, Past V1. We greatly appreciate the support.

Maybe this will be an opportunity to get some press coverage of the onerous schedules we've been flying and how over time it just wears you down. Add that to all of the latest stress factors in the industry and you have a recipe for disaster. Disaster is not good in this business.