United's Flight Attendants Plan Random Work Stoppages

July 28, 2005 — -- Flight attendants for the nation's second-largest airline say they will begin work stoppages today at 20 locations on three continents -- actions that could cause major headaches for air travelers.

United Airlines flight attendants are protesting the carrier's decision to terminate its staff pension plan, which could cause the value of some retirement packages to drop by 70 percent.

They are calling their work stoppage policy CHAOS, for Create Havoc Around Our System.

Flight attendants plan to inform passengers a work stoppage could take place on any of United's 3,000 daily flights at any airport around the country and on any day until the company agrees to negotiate alternatives to the new retirement plan.

Those stoppages will be unannounced, but flight attendants will also be picketing and handing out leaflets at 17 airports.

United Airlines issued a statement saying, "We have 3,000 flights a day, we've got spare crews, and we are committed to meeting our customers needs … We don't anticipate any cancellations. Customers can book with confidence."

Con Hitchcock of Orbitz.com said it is impossible to predict how passengers will be affected.

"Hope for the best, prepare for the worst," Hitchcock said. "The most important thing for travelers is to stay in touch with your travel agent … Stay loose, prepare for what could happen and keep a sense of humor."

Hitchcock said there were already demonstrations taking place in Newark, N.J,. and Hong Kong early this morning.

Flight attendants say these are not actual strikes; they are demonstrations and leafleting campaigns to warn travelers that a strike could happen at any moment.

A United Airlines spokesperson said that any strike would be illegal because it was the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation who terminated the pensions, not the airline management. Therefore, the union contract with the airline is still valid and strike action is still illegal.