United flight attendants picket over contract delays

By Richard N. Velotta

Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 | 5:30 p.m.

When United Airlines was in bankruptcy years ago, employees took pay cuts to help the airline survive.

The concessionary cuts were written into union contracts with workers counting on negotiations for a new deal when times got better.

Today was the day that United’s contract with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA became amendable and United flight attendants marked it with informational pickets at 17 airports worldwide, including McCarran International.

In Las Vegas, it wasn’t a happy crowd.

Flight attendants say they are working at 1994 wage levels, are working 48 percent more compared with schedules and staffing in 2002, have seen their pensions vanish while their CEO, Glenn Tilton, took a bonus that if divided up could have given every flight attendant a 10 percent pay raise.

And, on top of that, the flight attendants protesting at McCarran were upset that the airport restricted their demonstration to an area that wasn’t anywhere near where United customers would be.

“We don’t want to hurt the company, but we feel as if management is dragging its feet on negotiating a new contract,” said Laura Harsh, who coordinated the Association of Flight Attendants’ demonstration at McCarran.

It was the second airline employee protest at McCarran in two days, but the issues addressed were vastly different.

Wednesday, representatives of US Airways pilots’ union picketed to draw attention to the airline’s plans to downsize its Las Vegas operation. The pilots were hopeful that their action would draw attention from the public, business people and Nevada politicians.

On the political front, the action seemed to have gotten some results – Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., sent a letter to US Airways Chairman and CEO Douglas Parker asking him to reconsider the airline’s plan to reduce the number of daily round-trip flights to and from Las Vegas from 64 to 36.

In his letter, Reid reminded Parker of his support for the airline when it merged with America West Airlines and when it sought take-off and landing slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

“I am strongly concerned that your decision to reduce service to Las Vegas is shortsighted,” Reid said in his letter. “Like many tourist destinations, Las Vegas was hit hard by the economic downturn affecting our nation. However, we are beginning to see the beginning signs of an economic recovery in Nevada. For the first time in nearly a year, McCarran Airport has recorded two straight months of increases in visitor volume. When passenger traffic returns, your airline will be well positioned to take advantage of the Las Vegas market.”

Political analysts say Reid’s letter shows the pressure that’s been exerted on him by the state’s flagging economy. Some say that while he needs to show concern about the cuts, he risks appearing weak if the airline proceeds with its cost-cutting measures as expected.

The United protest, meanwhile, was all about labor strife.

About 36 flight attendants rotated through a picket line 20 at a time and 10 people passed out leaflets to travelers at baggage-claim carousels.

Pickets shouted slogans and carried signs reading, “Living at 1994 wages,” “United Airlines running late with my pay,” and “Pay cuts seven years, eight days too long.”

Local protesters also were upset that airport officials issued them permits to picket in areas far from where United customers would see them. The demonstration occurred at the northern end of the departures curb at the airport. While some passing motorists honked their horns in support of the picket line, few people stopped by to inquire about the demonstration.

Contract negotiations for a new deal for the flight attendants began April 6, but union officials say management has stalled progress with delays. Pilot contracts also were amendable today and four other union contracts expired last week.

Under the Railway Labor Act, contracts don’t expire, but become amendable with the old contract staying in place while negotiations occur.

United officials say they have negotiated with the union in good faith and that talks would continue.

More than 500 flight attendants participated in demonstrations around the world today, with more than 200 at United’s corporate home, Chicago.

Representatives of American Airlines’ flight attendant union, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, issued a statement in support of their United counterparts. American flight attendant contract talks have been in negotiations for 21 months, a union representative said.

United, the third-busiest carrier at McCarran with an average 32 daily flights, has a satellite flight attendant base in Las Vegas with 240 employees, 145 of which are currently active with the rest furloughed or on standby.

The airline has flown 2.6 million passengers to and from Las Vegas in the first 11 months of 2009, 7.6 percent fewer than it did in the same time frame a year ago.