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Union calls company proposals insulting

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21 May, 2001Negotiations between IAM negotiators for District 141 and United Airlines management have reached an impasse.

USA: In a statement issued on May 18, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' negotiating committee for 30,000 United Airlines employees dismissed proposals by United Airlines management as insulting and said that further negotiations would be pointless.
The IAM bargaining team has called for a release from mediated negotiations and is preparing for a 30-day countdown and possible strike. A spokesman for the team, which is negotiating for members in customer service, ramp, reservations, food service, security guards and stores, declared that "United is treating its employees the same way it treats passengers -- promoting high expectations and delivering nothing."
IAM District 141 has notified the National Mediation Board (NMB) that negotiations have reached an impasse on numerous issues. The union says that besides wages, United has an obligation to deliver on all the promises it made seven years ago when workers took deep cuts to rebuild the airline. This includes industry leading pensions, job security and health benefits. "We have done our part," declared the union's lead negotiator. "We have built the most successful airline in the world, and we expect a share of that success."
The 30,000 members of District 141 now join 15,000 mechanic and related employees at United who requested a release from the NMB on November 7, 2000. Both groups began negotiations with United Airlines management in December 1999.