Flight Attendants Worldwide Condemn United Bargaining Delay

United Airlines' failure to negotiate a new contract with AFA-CWA flight attendants on time provoked a worldwide protest today by thousands of flight attendants at airports across the United States, Europe and Asia.

In 2002, United flight attendants were forced to take steep cuts in pay during United's bankruptcy. Management also terminated workers' pensions, cut retiree health care and eroded working conditions. Those cuts were scheduled to end on Jan. 7, when the contract became amendable.

Flight attendants currently are paid at 1994 wage levels and they are working 48 percent more, compared to 2002 schedules and staffing levels. When United exited bankruptcy, its CEO, Glenn Tilton, accepted a bonus that could have provided a 10 percent raise for the airline's 15,000 flight attendants.

"Negotiations began last April, but United has shown no interest in discussing improvements or reaching a new contract unless we agree to concessionary demands,"  said Greg Davidowitch, president of the AFA-CWA United Master Executive Council. "Flight attendants are angry because management seems only interested in delaying a new contract, refusing to discuss any improvements."

Flight attendants are protesting in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Tokyo-Narita and Washington DC.  A copy of a leaflet distributed to passengers is available at www.unitedafa.org.