HED United Workers tell Execs: Give us our money
More than 100 flight attendants and pilots for United Air Lines Inc. picketed the annual shareholder's meeting Thursday at the Field Museum in Chicago with one clear message: Give us our money.
"There is a passion for flying that we have," said Greg Davidowitch, president of United Master Executive Council, the flight attendants' union. "But that passion for flying doesn't pay the bills."
United employees claim that executive compensation packages have been soaring while employees' wages are stuck at the gate. During United's three-year bankruptcy, management clawed back $2.5 billion in wages and other compensation from workers. Meanwhile, compensation for United's top five executives totaled more than $65.8 million in 2006, compared with $23 million in 2005.
Executive pay is out of line with employees' compensation, said Herb Hunter, spokesman for United's Pilot union. ."We come out of bankruptcy, we get nothing,"
For many, the loss of salary has meant working longer hours, taking second jobs and in some cases, selling their homes to stay afloat, employees said.
"We're talking about real serious decisions that people have been confronted with during the course of bankruptcy," Davidowitch said.
United emerged from bankruptcy in February 2006. After posting years of losses, United posted an operating profit of $447 million in 2006. At the annual meeting on Thursday, Glenn Tilton, chairman, president and chief executive officer thanked employees for their "dedication, hard work and resolve."
United did not immediately respond to requests for an interview.
The current contract agreement between labor and management expires in 2009, and employees hope to bring United executives to the bargaining table sooner rather than later
"We're not just concerned about the extreme greed of this management. We're concerned about the bad business decisions that are reminiscent of those that put United into bankruptcy," said Sara Nelson, spokeswoman for United Flight Attendants.
Employees say the staff cuts have resulted in poor customer experience. According to a Wichita State University study released in April, United had the highest customer complaint rates of all the airlines. It shared that position with US Airways.
"There's a real close nexus between what's good for the employees and what's good for the customers," Davidowitch said, adding, "And we're going to change this."
"This is just our first day of action. There will be further action. You can expect to see a lot more of the employees," Nelson said.