United Airlines sues pilots' union, says it caused hundreds of flight cancellations
31 Jul 2008
American carrier, United Airlines (UA), has sued its pilots union, claiming it organized an illegal and disruptive ''sickout'' that has caused "hundreds" of flight cancellations at the world's second-largest carrier. The suit, filed Wednesday, asks a federal court in Chicago to block the Air Line Pilots Association and, specifically, four pilots from continuing the "unlawful job actions."
The "sickout" was organised to protest against the carrier's plans to cut the number of pilots it employs.
A hearing is planned for Thursday.
In its lawsuit, the Chicago-based airline alleges the union and four specific pilots have been violating the federal labour laws that prohibit transportation workers from conducting work slowdowns. As a result of the pilots' ''unlawful job actions," United claims, it was forced to cancel 329 flights between 19 July and Sunday.
The cancellations cost UA millions of dollars, it said, apart from damaging its reputation with the flying public and disrupting travel plans of about 36,000 passengers. The airline said pilots were refusing to report for additional flying.
The pilot action is in response to UA's plans to ground planes and lay off workers. United has said it intends to cut 7,000 jobs and ground 100 planes.