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Airline Labor Pains

United Airlines employees picketed outside the company's annual meeting today. NBR Midwest Bureau Chief Diane Eastabrook explains why union workers at United and other airlines are upset about their current wage rates.



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Related NBR Stories & Links

• 04-30-07: One-on-One with Gerald Grinstein, CEO of Delta
• 04-30-07: Delta Flies Out of Bankruptcy with a New Look
• 12-13-06: United Tries to Land a Merger Deal with Continental
• 10-31-06: United Airlines Lands a Profit but Turbulent Times aren't Far Behind
• 02-01-06: United Flies Out of Bankruptcy

External Links/Articles*

• Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA)
  AMFA is an independent aviation union representing craft mechanics at seven major airlines, including United Airlines. This links to a May 8, 2007 press release titled, "AMFA to Protest Excessive Airline Executive Pay."
• Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA)
  ALPA is the union representing pilots who fly for U.S. and Canadian airlines. This links to a May 4, 2007 ALPA press release titled, "United Pilots Begin Info Picketing Campaign."
• Association of Flight Attendants (AFA)
  AFA is a labor union representing flight attendants working at 21 airlines, including United Airlines. This links to a May 10, 2007 AFA press release titled, "Flight Attendants Picket UAL Shareholder's Meeting."
• Fitch Ratings
  Fitch is a corporate credit rating agency. Fitch airline analyst William Warlick is interviewed in Diane Eastabrook's report. This links to the Fitch credit rating for United Airlines.
• The McKinsey Quarterly (Registration Required)
  The McKinsey Quarterly is a publication of McKinsey & Company management consulting firm. This links to an article titled, "A new organizational model for airlines." You must register to read the article.
• United Airlines
  This links to the "Investor Relations" section of United's website. Here you can find the airline's financial reports as well as a press release about the May 10, 2007 shareholders' meeting.

*Clicking these external links will take you off the NBR web site on PBS.org. NBR has no affiliation with these sites.