United mechanics' union votes to strike

By Andrew Buchanan
Associated Press

CHICAGO — Frustrated by two years of failed negotiations, United Airlines mechanics voted overwhelmingly for a strike against the struggling carrier, although any walkout is unlikely for at least two months.

International Association of Machinists spokesman Frank Larkin said yesterday that close to 99 percent of the nearly 10,000 votes cast the previous evening supported a strike. But anticipated action from the Bush administration would make a walkout illegal before Feb. 21.

The IAM represents about 13,000 United mechanics, down 2,000 due to recent layoffs.

United spokesman Joe Hopkins said the company does not expect any disruption of service as a result of the vote. He said no negotiations are scheduled and he did not know when the two sides might sit down again.

A 30-day federally mandated cooling-off period that is required before a strike can occur ends next week. The Bush administration has said it would extend that process when the countdown expires Dec. 21 to prevent strike-related problems with holiday travel.

The administration is expected to appoint a presidential emergency board that would then have another 60 days to try to settle the contract dispute before a strike could take place. There have been no talks since the cooling-off period began.

The mechanics received their last raise in 1994. Their efforts for increased pay have been plagued by declining travel since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. United already was suffering through its worst year ever. The company withdrew its contract offer and said any immediate raise is impossible.

United has cut 20,000 jobs and about 750 daily flights since Sept. 11. It lost $1.16 billion in the third quarter and said it was losing about $15 million daily this fall.