BenTover

How about huge pay cuts to save the pensions. Of course Whiteford was played. He was even told by some that they were going to take our pension and he still thought he could save it.

RJs to save the seniors? Don’t think so. The company had their wish list and they were determined to get it. They were even threatening to spin off TED into a separate entity and there was no coming back to mainline. Funny how everyone thinks we had all this leverage in CH11.

WhisperJet

Serious question: Who would you prefer other than SK for UAL to have as CEO right now?

DashTrash

Honestly, I view SK as our version of Richard Anderson. RA wanted to run a well operating airline and he built Delta into the mammoth that they are today. He changed the culture and their employees bought into it once they saw the success. RA was not trying to make himself a golden parachute. He was determined to build the best airline, and he did that.

I was very close to the Delta culture for 3 1/2 years. I saw the corporate communications and was part of their operation as a DCI carrier. Richard was very ruthless too. He mettled in the union drive that the NWA Flight Attendants were pushing and got AFA kicked to the curb. He also pulled some shenanigans to re-align DGS (Delta Ground Services). So he was no saint, but Delta is what they are because of him.

I believe that we have the same opportunity with Kirby. He is similarly driven like Anderson. He has no interest in making himself a golden parachute...yet

Dave Fitzgerald

Pat Patterson?

cadetdrivr

Um, no. They are called rose colored glasses for a reason.

Flying the Line, Volume 1 (pdf):

"United’s W. A. “Pat” Patter* son had recently been slapped down hard by the National Labor Board (a predecessor of the National Labor Relations Board) for trying to sack Dave Behncke."

“I won’t have any union man working for me,” said W. A. “Pat” Patterson when he first heard of ALPA. “Nobody can belong to a union and fly for United!”

Duckdude

If you mean the former United CEO, according to Google, he died in 1980.

Or perhaps you are referring to the 79 year old professional wrestler? He might be available.

Dave Fitzgerald

Well, he did ask the question. Patterson is generally given credit for creating the airline UAL is today. Anti-union? Yes, but most management is. I chose this because in parallel, like Kirby, he seemed to be interested in actually running an airline, unlike Glenn and Smizek.

Seneca Pilot

Thoughts on Gordon Bethune?

bigfatdaddy

Just say NO!

Airhoss

A washed up drunk who in his heyday was most successful at keeping wages low and work rules to a minimum.