The Association of Flight
Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO today filed an objection to United Airlines’
motion to approve new debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing on terms which
prohibit the airline from making pension plan contributions, as is
required by both statute and the union’s collective bargaining agreement.
“United Airlines’ management is making decisions that are simply
reckless,” said Greg Davidowitch, United Airlines Flight Attendant Master
Executive Council President. “They negotiated new DIP financing on terms
that purportedly require the company to withhold employee pension plan
payments that are mandatory under the law and under our contract. Choosing
financing that threatens the future security of front-line employees
reflects baseless business sense. We will challenge any actions that
distract from the extraordinary efforts Flight Attendants are making to
see our airline succeed.”

AFA filed a separate objection to the request filed by current United
management seeking a fifth extension of the exclusivity period in which to
file a plan of reorganization with the bankruptcy court. AFA’s objection
states that an extension is unwarranted due to the unlawful refusal by
current management to make mandatory pension contributions, failure to
make good faith progress toward reorganization, the gross misjudgment on
how the ATSB would treat its application and failure to develop a
contingency plan in the event of an ATSB denial.

“Throughout four previously extended periods of exclusivity, this senior
management group has wasted precious tools afforded them through massive
employee concessions and industry-leading service records produced by
front- line employees who bring the passengers back,” stated Davidowitch.
“United Flight Attendants deserve better than that. Flight Attendants and
other creditors must be provided the opportunity to explore plans other
than those that have consistently failed under the direction of current
management.”

More than 46,000 Flight Attendants, including the 21,000 Flight Attendants
at United, join together to form AFA, the world’s largest Flight Attendant
union. AFA is part of the 700,000 member strong Communications Workers of
America, AFL-CIO. Visit us at http://www.unitedafa.org/.
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