U-Turn: Meanwhile Back at United.........

Those fine gentlemen at U Turn are having a busy week. Thanks for keeping all of us so well informed.

maybe we should be “happy” that AWAPPA’s UAL pipe dream DIDN’T happen. Here’s the latest from UAL’s Council 12 and a response from one of their rank and filers.

U-Turn Nation:  OOPS! We slipped back under 10,000 subscribers as our last missive gave us a negative seven count. But if you can’t handle the truth, hitting the UNSUBSCRIBE button is a guaranteed cure.  Back on topic: maybe we should be “happy” that AWAPPA’s UAL pipe dream DIDN’T happen. Here’s the latest from UAL’s Council 12 and a response from one of their rank and filers. We had to edit the response, because here at U-Turn, we try to keep the language clean. But being the intelligent audience that you are, you can surely fill in the xxxx’s. The Mighty U-Turn   COUNCIL 12 UPDATE

Fellow C12 Pilots:


The company's June 4th announcement has been as much a surprise to you as it is to us. Just last week our Negotiating Committee and System Schedule Committee met with the company, prepared to present them with various scenarios for possible furlough mitigation. 


The company was incapable of presenting us with a best-case scenario or a worst-case scenario. As you now know, the company plans to park 100 aircraft. The company has yet to finalize its plan for block hours or manpower requirements as a result of this downsizing. 


The company has also failed to recognize the associated costs with, and ability to re-train a substantial part of the airline due to the massive displacements that will result from their plan. TheTraining Center is so understaffed, that it simply will not be able to meet the training requirements that such a possible reduction in manpower will generate.
While other airlines have announced capacity reductions of 11 to 12 percent; and while industry analysts have called for a 15 to 20 percent capacity reduction, nationwide, this should not be viewed as an industry problem, in total. When United entered bankruptcy proceedings, it is now clear that, Glenn did not intend to restructure the airline, but rather decimate labor costs and posture the airline for a merger. Had this senior management done their due diligence (their JOB!), we would not be facing this drastic reduction in capacity. Instead of hedging fuel, investing in the operation, or recognizing the value of liquidity they spent $750 million on an ill-advised dividend payout. If the reduction of 1600 management positions is plausible today, it begs the question-why was it not plausible during reorganization? 


The C12 Officers, together with the C12 pilots, are hereby demanding the Board of Directors remove CEO Glenn Tilton for his incompetence in managing the airline. The United Airlines pilots have no faith in Glenn, no confidence in Glenn, and no respect for Glenn. He is the poster-boy for failure and corporate thievery! Wallstreet and informed industry analysts have no respect for Glenn. Other airline CEO's have no respect for Glenn. Glenn has done nothing but steal from the very people that saved this airline! The time has come for this BOD to exercise their fiduciary duty, act responsibly to their shareholders, and stakeholders (employees), and replace Glenn with an experienced CEO that knows how, and wants to run an airline.


Many analysts and industry observers question whether United's board will have the mettle to ultimately hold Glenn responsible for relying solely on a merger strategy that failed.


"The truth is there is going to be no merger with US Airways, and there is going to be no virtual merger with Continental," said Chicago restructuring expert William Brandt, president of DSI. "It's time to look at costs, to do what they should have done in bankruptcy…"
Brandt questions why United didn't tackle its cost structure earlier. United emerged from three years in bankruptcy in 2006 with expenses, excluding labor and fuel, eleven percent higher than American Airlines, which avoided bankruptcy and kept its employee pensions intact.
"It's got to be an embarrassment to United's board of directors," said aviation consultant Julius Maldutis. "What is United's business plan going to be now?" 


Your Council Officers, the entire MEC, the MEC Negotiating Committee, and the MEC System Schedule Committee are actively engaging in ways to mitigate possible furloughs. As far as we are concerned, one pilot furlough is one too many, yet the reality of this announcement is that the raw incompetence of our Senior Management will undoubtedly result in the harm to hundreds of United families. 


We suggest Glenn take a lesson from a real airline leadership team, like Continental Airlines. CEO Larry Kellner announced that he, and CAL President Jeffrey Smisek, will not receive pay, or bonuses, for the balance of 2008. That is true leadership! Glenn, are you paying attention?


All of you have proven over the past six years, three of those in bankruptcy, that your professionalism is stronger than the stress and anxiety that Glenn, and his band of thieves, has created. We all remind you to stay focused on the safe operation of our aircraft. Do not allow this announcement to distract from your professionalism in the cockpit. Fatigue is an insidious enemy. Remain vigilant of your own stress and fatigue, and that of your fellow crewmembers. Do not fly fatigued! Do know that your MEC and Master Chairman are working on your behalf. We are all proud to be among you. 


If you believe that it is time for Glenn and his band of thieves to go, please check your schedule and attend the picketing event at the UAL Shareholder meeting in LAX June 12. We strongly encourage you to do so. You can find details of this event at www.unitedpilotunity.org. Show Glenn and the BOD how serious we are in demanding his removal!


Fraternally and in Unity! [At U-Turn, we always love the “unity” thing…it’s such a nice touch!]
Eric J. Popper eric.popper@alpa.org 630-841-3065
Carlos J. Rodriguez carlos.rodriguez@alpa.org 678-520-5545
J. Todd Coomans todd.coomans@alpa.org 815-814-1801 ________________ Here’s one response:  What a load of sxxx; the very backstabbing cowardly scum that stole the retirees pensions now want the world to feel sorry for them! Fxxx the back stabbing cowards in alpo who screwed the retirees! and fxxx them again and again, perhaps every month, like theyhave fxxxed the retirees out of their pensions every month. In particular fxxx the scum like doniach and daniels who pretinded to beunionist but were just pooped panties cowards. Harry, a very pxssed off and screwed retiree (Some days, you just get up on the wrong side of the bed! U-Turn)