media release

"No airline can function smoothly without the support of its employees," said Tom Buffenbarger, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW). "In the workplace, in the boardroom, and across the bargaining table, current management at United Airlines needs to stop acting like they own the company."

The IAM represents approximately 44,000 employees at United who own a 20.4 percent stake in the airline due to a 1994 employee buyout that brought majority control of the carrier to the company's union and non-union employees.

"Seven years ago United Airlines turned to its employees and their unions for what should have been the start of a new era in airline labor-management relations," said Buffenbarger. "Instead, we have an airline with abysmal employee relations.

"We have been negotiating with United Airlines for 17 months, and instead of facing us at the bargaining table, this management team chooses to use the courts of our land as cover to avoid direct negotiations and uses injunctions to intimidate and coerce employee owners," said Buffenbarger.

 "We have created great wealth for this company," said Buffenbarger. "Non-employee shareholders have been rewarded for the sacrifices of employee shareholders. We have great expectations to share in the wealth we have created."

Buffenbarger also rejected two recommendations of the UAL Board of Directors, declaring his support for resolutions regarding director's pay and shareholder voting rights on future airline acquisitions. "United employees hold 55 percent of the 117.6 million shareholder votes on these issues," said Buffenbarger. "IAM members control 24 million votes. From this point forward, we intend to take more control over how this company is run."
 
 
 

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