Strike talk at United

If authorized, flight attendants could walk out on random flights unannounced, stage a 15-minute walkout on all flights, or another non-traditional strike action. A large-scale walkout is unlikely, union officials said.

About 200 members of AFA Local 11 also met Monday to discuss the new proposal.

"People are angry," Local 11 President Terry Sousoures said Tuesday. "People are very fed up with the way they're being dealt with," she said.

United has been in bankruptcy court for two years and is asking for wage concessions to reduce costs across its business. Problems are compounded by competition from discount airlines, record fuel costs and labor problems.

Local union members said the company ought to streamline management or sell planes or buildings rather than ask more from employees. In May of 2003 there was a 9 percent wage cut.

"Our feeling is that we've given a lot already," said Ed, an SFO-based flight attendant for 25 years. Ed asked not to use his last name because he feared retaliation.

"We just question their business plan," he said. "You need to par down your business."

United is the second largest air carrier in the world with hubs in Chicago, Denver, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco.

If a strike is authorized and carried out, it would likely be a series of flight attendants walking off planes unannounced rather than a mass walkout, leaders said. Under the Railway Labor Act expanded for airlines in 1936, any disruption of national transportation requires a federal mediator and a cooling-off period, and the airline must negotiate with union representatives.

Meanwhile local union members said United is prolonging its bankruptcy to seek more concessions from employees, and United's top management does not deny it.

"Chapter 11 is the only way to gain leverage with the unions," United CEO Glenn Tilton told the Economist Magazine in September.

United spokeswoman Jean Medina said the airline is struggling to right itself in part because fuel costs were $1.2 billion higher than anticipated this year.

"We remain open to sitting down with the union," Medina said, adding that the concessions are only an initial proposal.

Mark, a San Mateo United flight attendant who also asked that his last name not be used, said Tuesday other airlines like Southwest do business under the same law, have good relations with its union and are profitable.

"If Southwest is profitable there's no reason we can't be," he said.

The 20-year flight attendant added he was upset his pension could be eliminated, and if the company is successful in dumping pensions it could be a litmus test for other airlines.

He said he would support a strike.

"I would be in favor. It's one of the only leverage points we have to let them know we're serious about this," he said.

Unions are also seeking a strike authorization at US Airways, Delta and American Airlines.

Stephen Baxter can be reached by e-mail at stephen@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.