Pension Issues Snag United, Union Talks

CHICAGO (AP) -- Negotiations between United Airlines and its machinists union remained hung up over pension issues Thursday, sending the two sides back to bankruptcy court for the trial to determine whether the union's contract should be broken.


The failure to wrap up an agreement on a long-term contract left hanging the issue of a possible strike by the United workers, who have threatened to walk off their jobs if lower pay and benefits are imposed without a consensual deal.

It appeared negotiators for both sides were racing to beat a new unofficial deadline of late Friday morning, when closing arguments in the case are scheduled and a ruling to break the contract could soon follow.

With the conclusion of the trial looming closer, both sides went back before Judge Eugene Wedoff on Thursday morning and obtained a brief delay in the resumption of testimony due to logistical issues.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said it would present testimony from two witnesses starting late Thursday afternoon, bolstering its argument that United is asking for excessive concessions from workers.

more ...

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050519/united_airlines.html?.v=5

:dem:

The bankruptcy judge has already ruled for termination of the D-B pension program. The IAM and UAL are negotiating over a defined-contribution (D-C) pension plan to replace the D-B plan which is being terminated. At US Airways, we (the pilots) had our D-B pension plan terminated on 3/31/2003. It was replaced with a crappy D-C plan. Since I am on long-term-disability, I can't contribute to the plan (although there is an open grievance on that decision by the company). What the company "contributes" to my D-C plan is "funny money." It may or may not be there when I hit mandatory retirement age.

<< Since I am on long-term-disability, I can't contribute to the plan (although there is an open grievance on that decision by the company). >>

I wonder if the pro Social Security reform people have ever considered this possibility. You cannot contribute if you become long-term or permanently disabled, not that you'd likely have the money for such endeavors anyway! :grr:

UNION YES!

:kick:

UNION YES!!!

:kick: