Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Federal mediators concluded two days of talks yesterday with United Airlines and its mechanics that produced no outward signs of progress.
A statement from the International Association of Machinists District 141-M, which represents 15,000 United mechanics, reiterated the union’s belief that an agreement would not be reached until the government declared an impasse.
Such a declaration would clear the way for the mechanics to strike after a 30-day cooling-off period — a threat the union says is necessary to get United to negotiate more seriously on its demands for industry-leading pay raises such as those the airline gave its pilots last year.
But the federal mediation board, the government agency that oversees labor relations in the airline and railroad industries, has sought to avoid starting the 30-day clock, particularly in light of labor standoffs at three other airlines, including Northwest Airlines.
Last Saturday the board began a 30-day countdown for the union representing Northwest’s mechanics, cleaners and custodians.
The 1998 pilots strike against Northwest Airlines shut down the nation’s fourth-largest carrier for 15 days, snarled plans for hundreds of thousands across the country — including in Hawai‘i — and contributed to more than $1 billion in losses for the carrier.
Yesterday Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based United, the nation’s largest airline, declined to comment.
In a rare statement from the board, member Ernest DuBester emphasized "the need to overcome the differences that remain" and said further mediated sessions would be scheduled as soon as possible.
The mechanics’ contract came up for renewal last July, and the two sides have been negotiating for the more than a year.
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