United Airlines Tries to Avert Possible Strike

Oct. 25 -- The day balloting came to a close on an industry leading contract negotiation for pilots at troubled United Airlines turned out to also be a day that could signal more headaches for the airline and holiday travelers.

While it’s likely pilots and the airline have voted to agree to a contract, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers division 141M which represents 15,000 mechanics are setting up phone lines notifying local governments of a possible strike during the holiday season.

Trouble in the MidwestThe Midwest division of mechanics filed for mediation when they weren’t satisfied with their direct negotiations with the airline last week. The ramp workers and customer service agents division of IAMAW are currently in direct negotiations with United to renew their contract. Their talks, so far, are going well, according to spokesman Frank Larkin.

But IAM's District 141M spokesman Tom Reardon told the Chicago Tribune that they are phoning local politicians and making preliminary preparations for a strike. The division will ask to be released from mediated talks supervised by the National Mediation Board if no progress is made during the two weeks of negotiations to renew their contract last negotiated in 1994. The talks are slated to begin next week in Washington.

“It’s too early to be alarmed,” Larkin said. “It’s reaching out some distance to say that negotiations are at a dead end. The idea behind 141M preparations is to be ready for what might happen.”

Once released from mediation a 30-day cooling off period will take hold, after which the union would be allowed to strike the Elk Grove Township, Ill.-based United Airlines.

“We are still negotiating in good faith and trying to assist,” said Joe Hopkins, a spokesman for United. He did not want to comment further. “This is not something we want to negotiate in the press,” he said.

The National Railway Labor Act (which covers airline employees) prevents the union from engaging in job actions until a mediation board determines that negotiations have stalled, making Dec. 9 the earliest machinists could strike.

In addition, The Chicago Tribune reports that the airline’s flight attendants are demanding a raise as high as 30 percent. Those talks could come to a head early next month.

UAL Corp., United’s parent company, reported that it lost $116 million in the third quarter, after a summer in which more than 25,000 flights were cancelled and thousands more delayed, due in part to its battle with pilots. The airline has been fighting to win back consumer confidence, and so a strike is the last thing it needs.