I worked at UAL, in both management (OPBCM) and non-management positions (ORDSK).
UAL labor unions will not come together. Never really have, never really will. Each workgroup has their own fiefdom, and thats that.
I fully expect UAL to file BK, especially if they cant service that 900 million (yes million) debt payment in the 4Q this year. No, I dont want UAL to file it, as I know a lot of people still there, and I wouldnt wish it on anyone.
UAL labor unions coming together and singing kumbaya (sp). It will not happen. SW (the F/As) are still pissed over the USAir fiasco (well, everyone is), their lost pay arbitration from a couple of years ago, and the fact that they dont have a seat on the board. AFA is not going to give management an inch, regardless of the situation. Their basic attitude is that we have a contract which you abuse enough already, we're not giving in in this section.
ALPA proffered a %-age a while ago (which basically negated their Contract 2000 raise).
IAM, machinists and C/S-RR, not sure about. Their wages are so low already (CS-RR), that they cant give back much more. I mean, a 10% give back off an 8.75/hr wage (for someone junior) isnt a whole helluva lot.
PAFCA (dispatchers). From friends in CHIDD (Chicago Dispatch), the first negotiated give back was 11%, contingent on all the other unions going along - now that some groups are balking, management wants more - but why should the dispatch group (or any other group) have to bleed more because some other groups arent going to go along?
Talking to friends who are pilots and dispatchers, the morale over at UAL is just as hunky-dory as it was Summer 2000, when the pilots were negotiating their current agreement. Back then I had a saying - "United, in name only"
When I was at OPBCM during the summer of 2000, we got a raise, called the Vision 2000 payraise. All of UALs non-unionized groups received one. For example, my raise %-age was about 22%, for working the pilot crew desk as a crew scheduler. One old-head crew coordinator, on the day everyone got their new UG showing their new monthly scale, was admonishing everyone "Dont go out and spend this all - the only reason they can afford this is that were doing so well, but the second the economy goes south, us as UAL MOST OF ALL (especially if this USAir fiasco goes thru), we will be in the toilet - mark my words."
Well, he was right.