United Seeks Court Order Against Union

C H I C A G O, Nov. 17 -- United Airlines, currently in labor negotiations with its mechanics’ union, said today it filed for a temporary restraining order in federal court toprevent mechanics at the world’s largest airline from engagingin what it called disruptive, illegal job actions.

“While these illegal actions do not affect our airline’ssafety in any way, they are leading to an increasing number offlight cancellations and growing frustration for our customersand employees,” said Andy Studdert, executive vice presidentand chief operating officer of United Airlines, in a newsrelease.

Negotiations at Breaking Point

“We respect our professional mechanics but they and theunion leadership must understand that good-faith bargaining isthe only way to get to the outcome we all want — anindustry-leading contract for mechanics at United,” he added.

In a letter last week to the International Association ofMachinists, which represents United’s 15,000 mechanics, theworld’s largest airline said mechanics were working-to-rule ata higher level, submitting excessive write-ups, makingerroneous claims of missing equipment and failing to workovertime after they had signed up to do so.

If granted, the order would require IAM and its members tocease all illegal job actions at United immediately or riskfacing fines or other sanctions, the company said.