Important Letter from the United Labor Coalition
Important Letter from the United Labor Coalition
Nathan Lopp
Vice President, Labor Relations
United | Corporate Support Center | 233 S. Wacker Drive WHQLR 25th Floor | Chicago, IL 60606
Dear Mr. Lopp,
Just over one year ago, the United Airlines Labor Coalition raised its concern over United’s codeshare agreement with Emirates Airlines, based partly on accounts of unfair labor practices and employee intimidation in the United Arab Emirates. Today, we raise our concern over employee treatment much closer to home.
Labor relations at United Airlines have deteriorated to the point that lacking labor standards halfway around the world now seem suited to describe the current situation at our own airline. At the forefront is a draconian and one-sided approach to employee investigations and discipline. Human Resources is now involved in the smallest and simplest infractions, resulting in consequences orders of magnitude worse than the deed. Most grievance cases are denied and sent up to the next level with little discretion given to local managers who best know their workforce and issues.
United Airlines filed a supplement to its application for a Haneda slot, which was surrendered by Delta Airlines. In this long and detailed document, United outlines the reasons it should be awarded authority to fly to Haneda from Houston. The Labor Coalition finds it instructive that nowhere in this exhaustive brief is mention of a single benefit to United’s labor force, should United be awarded this coveted slot. In fact, the point is made that IAH-Haneda flights would not be additive, but rather a replacement for existing IAH-Narita service.
Recently, the leaders of United’s unionized employees were asked to submit letters to the Department of Transportation in support of United Airlines’ application for Houston-Haneda authorization. Such collaboration stems from relationships centered on mutual respect and fair treatment. Sadly, we believe the current labor/management relationship falls far short of this standard. For the sake of the employees we represent, we sincerely hope for an improved climate, where cooperation and collaboration can exist and thrive. Such a climate does not exist today, and as a result, the United Airlines Union Coalition agrees it is inappropriate to support United’s application for Houston-Haneda service.
Respectfully,
|
Ken Diaz |
Mike Klemm |
Garth Thompson |
Craig Symons |
Joe Ferreira |
|
MEC President |
President |
Master Chair |
President |
Dir. Airline Div. |
|
AFA-UAL |
IAM-UAL |
ALPA-UAL |
PAFCA-UAL |
IBT-UAL |
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Important Letter from the United Labor Coalition
17 November 2023
Nathan Lopp
Vice President, Labor Relations
United | Corporate Support Center | 233 S. Wacker Drive WHQLR 25th Floor | Chicago, IL 60606
Dear Mr. Lopp,
Just over one year ago, the United Airlines Labor Coalition raised its concern over United’s codeshare agreement with Emirates Airlines, based partly on accounts of unfair labor practices and employee intimidation in the United Arab Emirates. Today, we raise our concern over employee treatment much closer to home.
Labor relations at United Airlines have deteriorated to the point that lacking labor standards halfway around the world now seem suited to describe the current situation at our own airline. At the forefront is a draconian and one-sided approach to employee investigations and discipline. Human Resources is now involved in the smallest and simplest infractions, resulting in consequences orders of magnitude worse than the deed. Most grievance cases are denied and sent up to the next level with little discretion given to local managers who best know their workforce and issues.
United Airlines filed a supplement to its application for a Haneda slot, which was surrendered by Delta Airlines. In this long and detailed document, United outlines the reasons it should be awarded authority to fly to Haneda from Houston. The Labor Coalition finds it instructive that nowhere in this exhaustive brief is mention of a single benefit to United’s labor force, should United be awarded this coveted slot. In fact, the point is made that IAH-Haneda flights would not be additive, but rather a replacement for existing IAH-Narita service.
Recently, the leaders of United’s unionized employees were asked to submit letters to the Department of Transportation in support of United Airlines’ application for Houston-Haneda authorization. Such collaboration stems from relationships centered on mutual respect and fair treatment. Sadly, we believe the current labor/management relationship falls far short of this standard. For the sake of the employees we represent, we sincerely hope for an improved climate, where cooperation and collaboration can exist and thrive. Such a climate does not exist today, and as a result, the United Airlines Union Coalition agrees it is inappropriate to support United’s application for Houston-Haneda service.
Respectfully,
|
Ken Diaz |
Mike Klemm |
Garth Thompson |
Craig Symons |
Joe Ferreira |
|
MEC President |
President |
Master Chair |
President |
Dir. Airline Div. |
|
AFA-UAL |
IAM-UAL |
ALPA-UAL |
PAFCA-UAL |
IBT-UAL |
Related
Rep. Mucarsel-Powell Discusses the Urgent Need to Enact the New Heroes Act
The House passes an airline relief bill as the industry begins most massive job losses in history. More than 36,000 airline workers will lose their jobs if the House and Senate do not extend payroll support before October 1. After long months of summer vacations,...
IAM Pushes for Airline Worker Relief on Capitol Hill
Outside the U.S. Capitol, IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. joined other labor leaders, airline executives, and politicians to call for an extension of the airline Payroll Support Program (PSP) which offers emergency funding to airline workers that have...
Do it Again – All Airline Workers Contact Your Lawmakers: Furloughs Start In Less Than a Week
With the airline Paycheck Support Program (PSP) contained in the CARES Act set to expire next Wednesday, September 30, we are urging all members to continue imploring Congress to pass a clean extension of the PSP through March 2021. Adding to the urgency is the...