Talks resume between United, machinists

[struggle4progress]

DAVE CARPENTER

Associated Press


CHICAGO - Contract talks resumed Tuesday between United Airlines and its machinists' union, the last employee group without an agreement on a long-term deal at the nation's No. 2 carrier.

The two sides are working against a deadline of May 31, when an interim contract for the 20,000 ramp workers, food service employees and customer-service agents expires. That also is the date a bankruptcy judge has set to rule on United's motion to break the machinists' contract, imposing terms unilaterally if there is no agreement.

Negotiators for United and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers held discussions by telephone before sitting down for scheduled face-to-face talks later at an undisclosed location, the IAM said. <snip>

The machinists' union has threatened a strike if the contract is abrogated. <snip>

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/11728602.htm

[rfkrfk]

1. don't worry, some flop-house airlines will fill in the gap,

if United is struck.
Nobody will notice.

[struggle4progress]

2. Ya ain't much of a union type? eom

[rfkrfk]

3. overcapacity, 'route freedom', --> the system adjusts

sorta like the internet in that if
one 'node' goes down, traffic reroutes,
most won't even notice.

Its just not like the old days,
when an airline strike meant something.

{edit, add}
Its not helpful for the airlines,
that the middle class is being wiped out.

People who work for Walmart, don't fly much.