Machinists edge toward UAL strike
By John Hughes
Bloomberg News Service
WASHINGTON — The machinists union representing 23,000 ramp and service workers at UAL Corp.'s United Airlines asked the National Mediation Board to begin a 30-day countdown to a strike after contract talks stalled over pay.
The machinists asked the mediation board to release them from contract talks that began in December 1999 and most recently resumed March 12, union spokesman Frank Larkin said.
The mediation board earlier yesterday recessed the talks for what the union said may be several weeks, and a mediation board spokesman declined to comment further.
"It is part of the process that delay follows delay," said Larkin, spokesman for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. "The members who are making 1994 pay rates are very frustrated."
The recess won't affect passengers' spring and summer travel plans aboard the second-biggest airline, United said.
"We have an industry-leading proposal on the table," Andy Studdert, United's executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. "We stand ready to return to the negotiation table as soon as the National Mediation Board schedules the next round of talks."
Mediation board procedures call for the board to make an arbitration offer on outstanding issues to both sides before releasing one of the parties from talks. If either party refuses arbitration, a strike countdown could begin. A mediation board spokesman said only that no further talks are scheduled "at this time."
The union includes baggage handlers, airport customer service workers, reservations agents, kitchen workers and security guards. The workers haven't had a pay increase since they and other employees took pay cuts in exchange for a 20 percent stake in the company eight years ago.
The machinists union also represents 6,800 more workers in this class who were laid off or asked to take leaves after the Sept. 11 attacks.
The union reached agreement with United on a new contract for mechanics and cleaning workers earlier this month.
