UAL Pilots are Embarassing

Some of you have been reading this blog for awhile and I thank you for that. Let me tell you right now that I’m about to contradict myself. It’s probably not the first nor last time for that, but it’s not the end of the world either.

A few weeks ago I lambasted management at United Airlines for missing an opportunity to engage UAL pilots and win at least a kernel of employee support before they awarded huge bonuses to senior managers.

Now in retaliation the pilots have formed a strike committee to warn United management they’re serious about wanting their share of the pie.

And you have to admit, United management almost seemed to be asking for it.

Do the pilots and the rest of the employees at UAL deserve some of those long-awaited profits … sure.

Except, unless I’m mistaken though, that’s not the way the bargaining agreements were written. For now, management and the pilots are playing by different sets of rules. Unionized employees reap the security benefits of a contract that normally adds value when things are rough. But it also seems that one year into a multi-year agreement, the pilots also now want the freedom to demand extra cash in their paychecks as things improve.

Maybe UAL employees need a better negotiating team next time.

But in the meantime, neither United pilots, nor any other unionized group, can or should have it both ways.

Sign the contract, live with the contract. If you can’t agree on something then the strike is an option.

But if you want all the flexibility that everyone believes management enjoys – irritating as it may be at times- then axe the contract and take your chances along with management.

The fact that both sides at United seem to constantly be looking for an opportunity to whack the other is why so many people avoid flying United Airlines like the plague.

Many of us remember people stuck on board a UAL airplane for 12 hours in the summer of 2000, so I doubt either the pilots or management are going to be reaping much sympathy from customers. And last time I checked, UAL still needs customer for something.

Maybe merging with Continental is not be such a bad idea though. Those folks seem to get that customer thing.

What few of the UAL folks – pilots or managment – seem to understand, even after the chaos of 2000 and a massive bankruptcy, is that plenty of airline passengers don’t think they need United any longer.