UAL MEC Strike Preparedness Committee
Attention all Pilots
The United pilots will be performing informational picketing at the final 2011 Spring CEO Exchange to be held at the IAD Airport Marriott, 45020 Aviation Drive, Dulles, VA 20166 on Wednesday, June 1, 2011.

Please join us in demonstrating our disappointment with United’s progress on delivering a joint collective bargaining agreement. Those attending please RSVP with an email to [email protected] and include your name, mobile phone number or call Glenn Klopfer, (202) 423-6350.

Schedule of events:
0900 – 0915 Assemble at the IAD Airport Marriott.
0930 – 1130 Informational picketing outside of the final Spring CEO Exchange along Aviation Drive.
Uniform: Summer Uniform including hats.

Please note that our permission for this picket applies to the sidewalk adjacent to the street in front of the Dulles Marriott. No picketing materials or activity will occur on or within Marriott Property. All participants are to adhere to this condition.

 

I'll be there.

 

I'll be there too!

 

Good luck with the picketting. You cannot imagine how important this merger is, and that you get one pay scale for all. I am retired and working at a major university. The students who are pilot candidates are falling like flies because the job PAY and BENEFITS are no longer there. They see little hope of a future, and take other jobs behind a desk somewhere. Our attrition rate of "flight option" students is well over 50%. The future of the profession depends, I believe , on this negotiation, just as the strike did in 1985. Hang tough and get rid of the B scale for regionals, and the "pilot shortage" will disappear like last week's news.
Again, good luck, and thanks for your work.

 

Go Broncos!!

 

I don't remember the name of the UAL 767 Capt that stood up at the rear Mic.... but someone buy that guy a beer. He was ferocious. Awesome.

 

Did smisek get a good sense of how we feel?

 

What's this?

 

Can we get the Reader's Digest version? And, it makes me really happy to hear that people are finally showing a little spine.

 

There was a good turnout of both pilots and flight attendants, but NOT ENOUGH CAL PILOTS (of which I am one). For the most part, we sat grouped together inside the conference room where the exchange was held after picketing outside for 20-30 minutes. There were 2 microphones in the center aisle of the conference room, where attendees could ask questions of Smisek once he was done with his relatively short summary of where things are.
He reiterated that the merger was progressing and he was pleased with capacity discipline and aimed for the entire merger process to be completed approximately 12-18 months from now. Highlights were new airplane deliveries and other integrations, but nothing you haven't heard before. Price of fuel is still high but for the first time in the airline history, he says the airlines are learning how to still make money despite this trend.
The exchange lasted less than one hour, but if I recall correctly, 4 pilots had the opportunity to speak. (Out of the 8 or so questions - I think that's pretty good). The questions were well worded and direct, and obviously centered on the lack of progress at the negotiating table, CEO compensation, morale, etc... Jeff is an excellent speaker and did a good job of deflecting most criticisms. He repeated again what we have been told - that he has directed his negotiating teams that are dealing with ALPA, AFA, IAM, etc... to get it done. He also said that he isn't looking for concessionary contracts, but that a contract must be fair to both the company and the labor groups. The usual buzzwords such as 'industry competitive' were used a fair amount. A few flight attendants asked questions, both active and retired. The active ones were upset over the lack of contract for the UAL side of the house, and the retired ones were very upset over the changes to the pass travel policy.

So, that's my rough summary of things. Like I said, he's very well spoken, affable, and can work the crowd. As we can see in the press - new United preaches a lot of 'going forward', 'working together', and other kumbaya phrases. I don't doubt that the CEO wants those things, but it is my opinion that he needs to set the tone. I don't think any of us are feeling the love at work right now, and haven't for years. If he could get his management team and flight ops to practice what he preaches, perhaps his dreams will become a reality. In the meantime......FUPM.