The following comments were received from various United Airlines employees and family members. Unless specifically requested otherwise, all personal identifying information has been removed.

More recent letters from past and present UAL employees can be found here.

December 14, 2006

I am a retired UAL employee who often reviews the UNTIED site. I certainly do relate to the stories of United's devious, abusive, and arrogant defiance of any code of lawful corporate conduct. Corporate Outlaws is an appropriate description of those who rule United Air Lines.

I particularly question the legality of Uniteds' operation of Corporate Medical Departments whose corporate doctors are given power over an employee's right to his or her job. I have seen too many instances where the Corporate doctor has abused his medical power, as a corporate hatchet man to get rid of employees. This is an egregious conflict of interest abuse of civil, human, and labor rights, used relentlessly by United Air Lines, Inc.

United's corporate doctors unlawfully interfere in workers Compensation cases during litigation. United is self-insured which already gives them complete control over an injured employee's rights. I have seen medical records criminally altered, doctors contacted to lie and deny job injury, and these employees terminated by the corporate doctor in retaliation for filing a legitimate job injury case. This is just the tip of the iceburg. Isn't there a law against this?

Ed: I've received numerous complaints from ex-UALers about this specific issue -- abuse of power of the corporate medical officers, often in the context of ordering injured employees to report back to work long before they are medically able to do so, or lose their job. Just to take three examples from this year, see the entries here for Oct. 23, 2006, Aug. 8, 2006, and Jan. 30, 2006. Certainly, altering of medical records would be a criminal offense, but I have yet to hear of a case where an employee has documentation to support their assertion that the airline did so. If such proof were available, I would expect this to support a strong lawsuit against UAL.

November 6, 2006

I'm a current, and disgruntled UAL (ramp Service) employee, and I'm just writing to say that you have my full support for this site. I've mentioned it to countless other employees, and I think they're starting to realize that the problems are not confined to just our station. I'm sure most have already known this.

I've had family members that worked for UAL, for a combined period of over 50 years, so I can say that working for UAL, or ANY airline was, at one time, an outstanding career. Unfortunately, this can no longer be said for UAL, or almost any of the airlines.

Since the failure of our last contract, we've taken (approximately) a 24.5% pay cut. For the people that have written in, and commented on how good UAL is, I'd like to see how you'd change your life, if you were "awarded" a 24.5% cut in pay. Just for the record, I/we found an article in a newspaper just after we entered backruptcy, and the writer had said (something close to); "The ramp personel at UAL do a great job, but they're not worth $50,000 per year." First, who the hell is he to tell me and my fellow coworkers what we're worth? Second, on your next trip aboard UAL, if you're traveling from Chicago to Germany, let me or my coworkers send your bag to Oahu - Now, tell me what we're worth. Finally, I never saw the writer of that piece stating what he or she makes per year. I hope he or she is compensated well for stating their "objective opinion."

Recently, my station has hired at least 5 new supervisors. Most of them are great people. However, after getting to know them, one by one, they're starting to "see the light", and are making plans to move on. Every single one of us doesn't blame them. If ones job depends on the tools they're given to accomplish a job, how can you expect the supervisors to get their job done when ramp employees (the tools) are not there?

UAL continues to work short staffed. Our schedule is constanly changing, and we're having shift bids almost every ninety days or so. For the people that may not know (the public), imagine having you lifes schedule changed every 3 months.

Another thing that has plagued our station are injuries. We've had countless employees out having surgery to repair a hernia (or two). I feel this is a direct result of the pressure being placed on us to get aircraft out on time, and being short staffed. How is someone expected to lift a 300+ pound box of freight alone? Don't think for a second that we're supposed to ask for help. THERE IS NO ONE TO HELP. The rest of the crew is working the other end of the aircraft, and has problems of their own to worry about. Once again, for those of you who don't know, yes, we do handle (on a semi regular basis) boxes that do weigh that much. It only takes one of them to send you to the hospital for the aforementioned surgery.

I'll wrap up my venting by saying this; UAL is not what it once was. Every employee at my station feels just about the same way. If you have any family or friends that want a job (not career) with UAL, tell them to go get their head checked. If that doesn't work, disown them as a friend or family member.

October 28, 2006

I was a flight attendant for United Airlines. I was terminated for tardiness for reporting late to a flight. However prior to being late, United's scheduling department had changed my flight assignement, not at my request. I arrived in time for my new flight assignment. I was no longer late for my original assignement as United Airlines had re-assigned me to a later flight. I have never been late to a flight assignemnt at United. Since being terminated, after applying for unemployment insurance, United has provided false written charges to the Georgia Unemployment Department citing that I have multiple instances of tardiness and had been warned several times. This is patently false. My concern is that their eagerness to terminate me and not other flight attendants that have the same (or worse) infractions stems from my HIV status. My employment began with several incidents of improper reaction to my disablity, including threatining not to hire me on that basis of my diability, alone. As such I have filed a case this the EEOC regarding this and am awaiting an arbitration date.

Ed: A reply to the note, below, from one of the editors at Untied.com:

I was terminated as a pilot many years ago for "patently false" accusations. Essentially UAL was cheating on crew rest, maintenance logs, training records, etc., and I would not lie on the forms as requested by UAL. That rather abruptly resulted in my termination.

That was a very difficult time for me, but quite honestly my life has been much better (both financially and emotionally) without UAL. That has also been true of virtually everyone that has corresponded to us via the Untied.com site.

We know UAL is morally bankrupt. Do not make any assumptions that UAL will ever do the "right thing" unless they are forced to do it. I'm not trying to be inflammatory with my remarks. I rarely make such sweeping statements. It was difficult for me to accept. I was a USAF pilot for 13 years, and I wasn't familiar with a company that would simply lie for convenience. Yet, it is unfortunately exactly what UAL does routinely.

October 28, 2006

I was hired as of October 9, 2006 by United Airlines as a RSE. I made it through only two weeks of training before being fired by the management for something that was completely out of my control.

During my two weeks I worked hard, listened to what my instructors had to say, and was a good employee by all means. I took time out of my life to accomdate these instructors in paperwork that needed to be done. Such as coming before my shift to get badging and all other requirements out of the way.

October 23, 2006 I left my house for the airport a little later than I should have resulting in me being 5 minutes late to work. This rightfully gave me an occurance as this was my fault for not managing my time to get to work.

Well the very next day learning from my lesson I left for work with more than twice the amount of time than would have been neccesary to get to work on time. Sadly there was a huge traffic accident on the interstate that backed up the highway for over 15 miles and lasted for over an hour. This caused me to be 35 minutes late to work. This of course landed me my second occurance and I was subsequently terminated.

No amount of explaining the sitution seemed to help. They even were so bold to say that they understood why I was late, but policies are policies and they must be consistantly aheared to. So essentially I was fired for what was completely out of my control. In fact I wasn't the only person late because of this very accident. Yet they still felt the need to fire me.

What my whole point boils down to is that United has unrealistic standards for it's employees. And that a company that treats it's employees in this manner doesn't deserve to make it. The management is running this once great airline into the ground and have their priorities messed up. Get a clue United!

October 23, 2006

I would like to know how my qualified doctors can release me to go back to work and McGuffinn who has ruined countless lives along with other so called company doctors can retain their licenses. First I was misdiagnosed and then my leave was shortened. Now it seems I am getting bad referrences. I was called on my days off and told to go to medical where they cant even write a prescription. I was also was sexually harrassed by a pilot. Forced to come in on my days off for drug tests and EAP by Dr Jennsen in San Fransico I had just lost a baby and apparantly after he accussed me of killing my baby its abnormal to cry and the union did nothing to help. They never filed on my behalf and my confidentiality was broken about my illness and now I know they are the reason I cant seem to get another airline to hire me. Slandered and Tired. I loved my job but not that company.

October 5, 2006

I worked in the world head quarters at UAL. Youd think they do a little something nice for the 911 victims, they have one flims quilt by the exit to the cafeteria....LOL...no one sees it. Well I was in IT, and although I loved the people I worked with, the whole management is unbelievable. The CIO got caught with his pants down in a conf room...this is no rumor it really happened. Then EDS came in to take over and they screwed up the contract....they fired eric davis but gave him 500000 dollars severence. The computers are sooo old you cant get anything done. There are old IT dinosaur groups that sleep all day, some smoke and drink coffee all day. When EDS came in they said they had never seen a IT dept so disorganised. I could go on .....but let me say one thing the people I worked with...were the best co workers and freinds and are good people with good intentions. When I asked the old timers why is everything so f'd up ...they say ...theres no money, and so the teeth come out. One of my supervisors who worked thier for 25 years got fired and wasnt even allowed to come back to collect his things. There are some brilliant managers and engineers who keep things going. But i must say it was the best job i ever had and i miss it.

September 23, 2006

I have filed a lawsuit as a Pro Se litigant against United in the Federal Court in Pensacola, FL. My supervisor had a vendetta against me and she worked with her pals in AFA to force me to retire or be terminated. I have been fighting this every since April 7, 2004 which is when I was forced to retire. I was not allowed to bring a lawyer to the "hearing" I was supposed to have. Last August, United permanently revoked my pass travel because of the supervisor from hell!. Until I got this woman for a supervisor, I had never had a problem with any supervisor. I was a flight attendant for 35 years, 9 months and 4 days. I had previously (along with 17 other flight attendants) filed an EEOC discrimination charge against United and AFA. This was because of the subjective "Qualified Purser" program forced on flight attendants by United and AFA. The EEOC is just a bloated government bureaucracy, but it is a hoop one must jump through to file a lawsuit in federal court. They rarely ever find "Cause." United also "trashed me" to a potential employer. If anyone is in the same situation, perhaps we can join forces. I have learned a lot in my fight and I am not about to give up. Please contact me if interested.

Ed: The former employee received, via her lawyer, a threat of legal action by United's law firm for libel and defamation against her former supervisor. As per request of the poster, we have removed the supervisor's name from the original post. It is worth noting, of course, that this sort of response -- threatening legal action rather than address the root of the problem -- is indicative of an inability of the airline's senior management to learn from previous mistakes, both their own and that of their predecessors.

The writer can be contacted by email to hutdia@aol.com or telephone at 850-862-4394.

August 21, 2006

Please refer to this article for background.

United Airlines has been raped of its assets. United Airlines employees have been victimized. United Airlines customers have been silenced.

United Airlines was the best airline. We, the employees, and our customers, made it the best.

Management, from the CEO'S, the many, many VP's, the Board of Directors, stole the airline. You created many spin-offs, plus, you sold our computer system, our buildings, mortagaged our planes, gave what cash our pensions did have to a company, PBGC, who is already 23 billion dollars in the hole, you gave 50 million dollars to US Air, just to talk, and we sell US Air as if we own it. Where did the money go?

What is so sad to me about the loss of my airline, is the loss of my United family. United got ugly.

After Sep 11, on its first anniversary, The Fire Fighters Memorial Service, is held at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs. Hundreds of family members came from all over the world to attend the services. United would not waive services charges for changes, did not offer any type of discount, nor was any United offical at the service.

The name has not only been tarnished, but the company has been disfigured beyond recognition. I hope your continued advancement of our company will continue to line your pockets, as the article above clearly states.

August 20, 2006

I feel that I must let my UA brothers and sisters know that they are not alone in thier very bad experiences. I am a current 20 year employee with UAL. I have been in almost every position available except senior management and pilot. I also am a well decorated employee (of the year, of the month, etc.)

In my earlier years I was put on the "management fast track" and moved around alot helping this great company out, well was I in for a reality check! Anyway I could not stomach the lack of support, backstabbing, idea stealing that happened to me and many others while in the management ranks. I held everyone accountable including Ron Utecht and Andy Stoddard (although Andy was a good man). Because I held everyone accountable for thier very poor decisions (serious money losing ones) I was removed from several positions. I can not begin to explain the pathetic minds that run this company.

The bottom line employees are continually told "We just do not give a damn what you think or why you think it, just do your job!"

Lest the employee answer along the lines of "But I do have the tools or the training and I definately do not have the PARTS to do my job in a good and timely manner", upper management responds, "Oh really, that's to bad.....you're fired!"

August 8, 2006

The article below hit home and I had to send you a letter regarding it. I too was a United Employee and the letter below is like a page from my book. I was off having heart palpations and a unexplained rash. After many doctor visits and spending time with a PhD the conclusion, it was stress, "work related stress". It is a very long story and would warrant a very long article, but to put it in a nutshell, I believe that the job should be done right at all times when it comes to avaition, there was, and I am sure still is, a lot going on that is far from "right"!

While off due to this stress I was asked by UAL medical to come to there facility at SFO and submit to a medical checkup. I politely declined because the palpations and rash were we discovered due to my work situation. When I didn't show up at UAL medical, ( I had documented all my illness to UAL ) they terminated me. My doctor thought it was a good thing anyway so I never fought the issue. It has been a struggle to move forward with a family of five but after acouple weeks of knowing I would never have to put up with their crap any more the palpations subsided as did the rash... I can totally relate to the guys article below. After seventeen years they told me I was totally seperated from the company and had nothing to do with United any longer even giving me a non-rehireable status. Yet when I wanted to collect my pension that I was owed I came to find I was on the books for that and I am not allowed to partake of my pension till I am a ripe old age.

I was under the impression and someone correct me if I am wrong, when a person is seperated from employeement are they not supposed to get all monies due them? I had a friend seperated from a local cable company after 18 years and he recieved a large sum of money from his pension account. United wants to play both sides of the fence, am I seperated or not, and if not, maybe I want my job back with back pay, and if I am seperated, then I want all the money due me so I can be truly seperated from UAL. I can go on and on as I stated at the beginning but I will end now or I might start getting palpations again...

Ed: Yours is a question that can be best be answered by a qualified attorney, and I suggest you contact one to find out your rights in this matter. Of course, with the airline having canceled the entire pension plan of its current employees, you may find that the issue is moot, unless you were "separated" from the company prior to this event.

August 6, 2006

I have been with UAL for 21 years. 15 of those in colorado springs. On August 1,2006, there was a mandatory station meeting. The 9 HR dummies that were there to tell us that our station no longer needed the services of the 62 united employees, are bald face lairs. When asked how long this was in the making, 3 weeks was the answer. So United signed a mutli million dollar contact in a 3 week window? When asked about the other 2 stations on the chop block- greensboro and indianapolis, answer...greensboro bids were too high, and IND is still in question. What a lie. Its all politics.

They just screwed 62 top notch agents, agents that knew what the term "BEST AIRLINE" meant. Knew what a "ROAD WARRIOR" is. Agents who realized that the 9 military bases in Colorado Springs, have many heros and war weary soliders, who just wanted to get home to thier families, and made it happen for them. Agents that could and would work diverted flights from DEN, as many as 22 on the ground,in the middle of winter,taking animals out of the pits, using employees lunches to feed these 25 dogs and cats, in the break room. To fuel 22 planes, ranging from 747's to 737's, with out incident. Did I mention that the staff was only 6-8 strong?

SkyWest took the contract. They are nice enough to offer a job fair, paying 14.00 an hour vs 22.00. They are counting on some of us staying. They know we know what we are doing. Screw them. They can't have me or my experience for 1/2 price. I find it very UNAMERICAN. I am going to ride into the sunset on my Harley...SCREW UAL.

July 14, 2006

I just left United. I can't say that I had 10 or 20 years in, in fact I left after just 16 months. Many have said that my job was the worst job in the company and I have seen many entries here that back that up. As a new Ramp Supervisor (I just lost half the people that were reading this) my job was a challenge to say the least. United is hiring military officers and aviation management graduates to fill these jobs in part because they are looking for new perspectives from the outside, and in part because there are so few Gate Leads willing to take the position.

I was sent to another hub for 4 1/2 months of training. I found that the ramp crews resented me being there and that the older ramp supervisors shared this sentiment too. Once training was over and I was able to move back to my hometown hub I found that the training I received was not adequate. The systems, procedures, paperwork and even the computer software was different than what I had been trained on. It was like starting all over again.

I was put into the busy zone because no supervisors with any seniority wanted it. I walked into my first briefing to see about 60 angry, untrusting faces looking back at me. I worked by butt off to win over the entire zone. In the end they trusted me because I supported them, was always honest with them, and fixed every problem that was brought to me. I spent most of my day outside with my crews because that is where I should have been.

I am not writing this to win anyone over, but I wanted to give a different perspective. I was definitely not perfect, and early on I sure had enough guys remind me of that, but I gave it my all.

Ultimately I left because I had worked long enough between a rock and a hard place. Frontline managers walk a tightrope between the union and upper management. Upper Management demands results because they fear for their jobs due to below target performance figures. I saw several of my bosses get the axe, and they had worked for the company for many years. They are running scared. I think that's why they seemed so distant with high expectations and so little frontline support. I know... no excuse.

P.S. I left for more stability, less stress, and because my fiance deserved more from me. Just so you all know... not all of the new supervisors are making the big bucks that everyone thinks they are. There are quite a few that would make more as a full-time ramp employee with some easy hour slips in his pocket... really. Good luck guys.

July 8, 2006

So I read all of the comments out there, as I enjoy seeing what employees write, both past and present, but as a current employee of United, I asking myself one question. Where are you working? I ask the question because I see a completely different side than many of you. Its not that I'm kept in the dark, and I actually receive internal communications on a daily basis. I just wonder is it because we are bitter for what has happened? Did we have the world's best life prior to bankruptcy and now we realize that we must change in order to keep this great airline flying?

My main question is, why does everyone on this site exploit change? Obviously there was a revenue problem in 2000 that was maginified even more during 2001. All of this was going to happen, it was going to happen to either us or American. United was the leader in bankruptcy. Notice something funny, AA hasn't filed for bankruptcy, however, their employees have taken about the same wage cuts as us....hmmmm wonder why. Before we pass the buck, maybe we should look at ourselves. We are no better than the Fords, Chevys, etc...sometimes the industries just can't sustain themselves. If we are all as qualified as we all project ourselves to be, then there are ample opportunities out there that I'm confident that you can find additiional opportunities to further your advancement in this economy, and I wish you the best of luck, but I kindly ask, before you go and tarnish a good name, a good company, ask yourself this....HAS IT DONE FOR YOU WHAT YOU EXPECTED IT TO? Only you can answer that...

Ed: Ironically, an excellent response to this question was received just before and is posted immediately below.

July 7, 2006

I started with UA in May 2000 actually excited to join this airline. It didn't take long before my job was a living nightmare. The supervisors in my center had never done the job they were supervising which was insulting at best. They came from every other line of work and actually instructed on something they knew nothing about. God forbid they would promote a lowly res agent!! I guess the 2 hr traing class preped them enough. After 9-11 we all agreed to several paycuts to help our company in need only to find out that they were taking our pay and funding the many centers in India they have opened. My money went to automated systems and India offices. we were paying the company to replace us!! I am an excellent customer service agent but found my services were of no use to United because the really didn't seem to care at all about taking care of the customers. Do you know how many times I gave out phone numbers for various services (like lost and found for example) knowing that nobody had manned that desk in 6 months and lost items at ORD were just thrown in a closet. But it was my job to the job I was given even when it meant deceiving customers. I finally left in March 2006 after a 7 month medical leave due to depression and the inability to get out of bed and face the day. I was sooooooo sick of saying "NO" to any and every request a customer had. Customers would yell and cuss several times a day out of frustration and I couldn't blame them one bit. I have been working for another airline for 3 months now and I'm happy to announce that I have not had one irate customer yet!!!! It goes to show that when you put a well treated customer on the phone with a well treated employee great things can happen. For all you United employees still braveing the storm I have 3 words for you.....Southwest is hiring!!!!!

July 4, 2006

Looks like bankruptcy once again! We lost the mail contract and service is plummeting. Here we go again.

July 4, 2006

Hi everyone, i have been a ramp servicemen for 10 years and have seen this compnat destroy many, many livelihoods for good hearted people. United is an awful place to work and I hope all of you people who desire to get jobs here DON'T! It is a toxic environment. San Francsico Ramp and Maintenance operations are pathetic. I notified a mechanic last week that a door seal on a b757 aircraft was torn off (which is a no-go item) and he bluffed it off and walked away. MAJOR safety issue.

I turned him and UAL into Cal-OSHA for this. I am so surprised an aircraft incident has not occurred with the crappy management. On the ramp, they threaten you with termination and levels for any little thing. They hire these idiot supervisors and managers who are straight from the military who are going to "straight up UAL", it is a joke. So for those of you who want to work here, don't. It is by far the worst company to work for and they hire complete idiots to run the place.

If you do want to work here, be very aware that United doesn't fire brain damaged supervisors but promotes them. Be safe and don't do anything extra, they won't appreciate it from you and you may get fired for it.

July 1, 2006

United is top heavy with managment and does nothing but try to disipline employees. I have worked for them at LAX for over 10 years. They consistantly lie to customers.There is not nearly enough manpower. Bag delivery times are atrocious. All managment cares about are there numbers so they can get bonuses. They will ask for brake releases to show an on time departure while the plane still sits at the gate being loaded. $80,000 in stock gone, 401k gone. Not long before I'm gone.

June 30, 2006

I am a former employee of United Airlines I was involded in opening IND, I was lay-offed in 2003 since the maintenance center was closing, I tried the relocation program, what a joke!!! they send you to another state, I did not know any one there and they allowed me to stay in a hotel for a month and then they don't even help you with finding a place to stay; I was commuting back and forth. I have done alot for that company -- I was recognized for highest sales and outstanding customer service, they sent me to several location arcoss the U.S. I even went to Germany. But once they annouced the maintaince center was closing, they tell you that you may relocate to a different office but then not even a year later, UA closes that office and lays off again. This company really "SUCKS".

June 29, 2006

I am a UAL furloughed pilot, and have bypassed recall. I would like to go back in the future, but I don't think there will be anything to go back to. United has no plan and no direction, other than a terrible product and terrible service.

I have travelled alot internationally on UAL in business class and have earned many points. UAL, not allowing international mileage travel is unsatisfactory and typical.

PS: TED is the biggest joke. It is a ripoff of Southwest's advertising. UAL has the WORST add campaign in the world! Those little cartoon characters are ridiculous. Anybody at management who agreed to TED and this add campaign should do all UAL employees a favor and outsource themselves to India.

June 22, 2006

I am a 30 year United employee that is on layoff now from my air freight rep job at MIAFF. We were in the first group of United employees that were laid off en-masse by United and replaced by the company with low-paid, unskilled,and mosty non-English speaking workers employed by Swissport. The United management was so arrogant to think that the United Cargo customers would not notice or care that the former employees that gave such good customer service were no longer around -- boy did they get a rude awakening!

Almost overnight the cargo division, which was about the only one in the company consitently making a profit for United, lost almost 50% of its domestic and US originating international cargo business. Within a year the brand new cargo warehouse that United had invested $36 million building at MIA was closed and all our international service was terminated to and from Miami. Those employees that were at least 53 years old were able to retire or have their seniority bridged so they didn't have to return to that hell-hole that is United Airlines.

I was one of the unlucky ones who was not old enough to qualify for retirement so like an idiot I tried to get reemployed with United in Chicago as a load-planner at WHQLP. What I didn't anticipate was the hostility that I met with by some of the employees that were already working in that department when I got there. They resented my seniority bumping them down a notch and immediately started a vendetta against me. Only 2 weeks short of passing my probation, I was shown the door, supposedly because my job performance was below standard.

A warning to all the employees and paying passengers that are flying on United aircraft around the world: the load-planning functions are being performed mostly by unqualified individuals who get only 2 weeks of very basic training before they are turned loose to do that job that has the lives of all of United's passengers in their hands. The stress level is extremely high, as is the turnover rate with the end result that SOR openings are almost constantly posted on the UA job site.

Because of greed and a total disregard for their employees, UA used the 9/11 tragedy as an excuse to cut all its wages and benefits, terminate its pension programs, lay off 40 percent of its workforce, only to replace them with outsourced workers, and what I feel is most outrageous of all, to steal the company back from all the workers that gave up billions of dollars to become employee owners under the sham of an ESOP plan -- a plan that United never intended to be a venue from which UAL employees could control their own destiny.

May 27, 2006

I joined UAL in 1991 after the buyout of the PAN AM routes to London. It was the begining of my career in Aviation, but I quickly learned United was not a company to be trusted. I watched former managers/heads of departments fired/demoted without just cause. People were sent over from the USA to run the operation who had no idea how to return an International airline. They all thought doing business in Europe was the same as doing business in Japan --- NOT. One manager when questioned about the threat of Virgin Atlantic to the London operation said "BA and American are our competition", funny how Virgin now have 6 flights a day between LHR and NYC; United has just 1. I have watched UAL destroy people's lives, incompetent managers going on witch hunts; indeed one manager copied in an employee on an e-mail to other managers on how they were going to fire her. United will be your best friend whilst you suit their cause; just ask ex-employees from the now closed Dublin call centre (outsourced to India); or Paris Flight Attendant base or Australia operation. I decided to get out after September 11th and the chapter 11 bankruptcy filing...living with the 30% cut in pay and benefits and 20% more work had the potential to turn me into one of the bitter, jaded old bags who can serve you onboard a UAL flight. The bottom line is United is not a company that has an idea about International travel; If you travel on their 747-400 there are no screens in economy; they are no where near retrofitting a business class bed...Their employees don't care because management treat them like morons; no one at UAL has any people management skills...they do not believe in internal customer service...THUS there is NO EXTERNAL CUSTOMER SERVICE...GLEN TILTON is milking the company for millions whilist pilots, flight attendant, ground staff have had their pensions cut in half...Funny his is PROTECTED...NOW FLY UAL and expect excellent customer service. Be suprised if you receive but you have been warned what to expect.

May 16, 2006

I worked for United in Sydney for 7 long years...

Couldnt work out why the staff had to PAY for water from the water cooler - and no tea, coffee or beverage supplied for weary staff. Not a good impression from the start from a multi billion dollar company. Needless to say the water cooler no longer exists!..heres another small gripe.. the (ex) General Manageress was the (ex) Prime Minister's sister - how did she get a promotion from airport customer check in-chick to head honcho overnight??? Needless to say her job running United Australia was appauling... as she mistreated staff and got away with it.

The list goes on with the ill treatment of staff ..just ask some of them now...they about to be given the flick to make way for new slave labour.

The big farewell planned is over tea and biscuits, some of the staff have been there 20 years. Jesus! guys bring in a keg of beer and stuff management and calls!

May 13, 2006

well lots of critism i scracely know were to begin. today after 9-11 i wouldnt know the airline. i only purshased ten shares of common stock at 42. finally sold the lot at 125. i have lost touch with all my friends at united. dennis halfman retired to oregon, art webber disabled went to phonix, everyone went someplace. i remained around lax, the mechanics lunch room was out of bounds. i managed to get better nutrician during my tenure there. in 1965 the food machines featured greasy chili, crackers salt/sodium laden, and whole milk. this was usuasully followed by french-fried apple pie and another cartion of whole milk. finnally you could buy a paper coffee cup for 5 cents and drink hot coffee to you hearts delight- the union choose yuban coffee-strong. then the shift began after the usual threats. plenty of sucrose in the frenh-fried pies. we then sucked on cigarettes, sipped the coffee and listened with half an ear to the usual threats. sometimes a mecanic would yell 'hang the sob' enthusically. or 'give 'em the firing squad'. this when a certain planner came in to brief us, 'ok listen up' i suspect the guy was a gyrene. safety was important but.

May 11, 2006

I am a former UA customer Service employee from Australia. I have been dedicated and loyal to this company from day one for 16years! I was disapointed and disgusted at the recent treatment of myself and fellow colleagues.About 100 of us have been made redundant. I too was enjoying my job very much. I too planned to stay until retirement. But you know what they say, "Things happen for a reason". I am so glad UA gave me the push to get out! I feel sorry for the ones who were forced to stay on! The way things are going, I'm sure UA will fill everyone with Lies and empty promises as they did to me. I'm glad I got out with some money (even though it wasn't Correct!) than nothing at all. It will be awful when the Company collapses completely and can't afford to pay the ones still on. Too easy for UA since the current employee enterprise agreement won't be renewed. Gee, what a surprise?!?!

April 7, 2006

As a soon to be made redundant employee of United Airlines I will soon submit my grievances of the airline on this web site, I have been aware of the site for sometime now, though not dismissive of it I have kept reserved judgement of it until now.

The majority of our Australian employees are being made redundant in this country, our customer service positions are being outsourced to a company called Aerocare, or Aero-don't-care as we know it to be, Reservations is off to the Phillipines.

After all the support we have given the company through 9/11, chapter 11 etc, they coldly waited until the exit from bankruptcy to terminate us, this is despite the constant bombardment of emails from our CEO Glenn Tilton and Larry DeShon, our VP of Airport Operations that if we looked after the customer and drove the business forward, we would have a secure future in the rebuilt United.

We now know that UA used the employees to emotionally connect with our customers to ensure them that everything would be ok, throughout the bankruptcy process, through our loyalty, that's why they waited until after exit from chapter 11 to axe our jobs, the fiscally prudent thing to do would have been to outsource our jobs during chapter 11 to satisfy the debtors in possession, but contractors would not have reassured our customers as effectively as we did.

Currently our accounts department still cannot come up with our correct redundancy figures, we have just had the update after the first guesstimate and some employees figures have risen and some have dropped. My payout has risen some $800AUD but they show my avg working week of only 28.15 hours (based on part-time), I have the sore feet and timesheets to prove I worked more than full time hours. My job is being brought to an end prematuraly, and I know I would have stayed on until retirement, some 25 years away, but the reality is I'm being thrown a lifeline in getting out with a financial payment. I'm heartbroken at being pushed out of the job I love without choice, but I know from some of my former colleagues at London Heathrow, there is a better life after UA.

I have to say we are not going out quietly in Australia, we have been two of UA's most dilliegent stations in collecting fees and charges from our passengers, never missing the chance to upsell a seat or product...now it's a different story, the management have shown their true nasty side and our Premium passengers (Global Services and 1K) are not happy, many saying they are ready to walk as Qantas has far superior aircraft to our widebody rust-buckets, the only thing UA had was excellent Customer Service...Glenn Tilton, Why do you throw away your only decent product? Your employees and customers want an answer!

February 19, 2006

I too was once a part of the "United Family".

My father was a mechanic at SFO for 37 years. He retired early when the pension were flushed. My brother worked on the ramp until he was forced to choose between college and a constantly changing schedule, swing to midnights and back with little notice. My cousin (despite our protests!) was recently hired with the newest batch of F/A's as UAL attempts to come out of BK.

I was hired in 1986 and spent a year and a half at SFORR, transfering to SFOCS in 1988 where I was injured on the line in 1989.

I initially enjoyed my job in reservations until I burned out with the outrageous sales goals and expectations as did most of my co-workers. Because I consistantly exceeded sales goals, my manager didn't want me to transfer to the airport. I had to threaten him with a grievance to get the ball rolling.

Once at the airport I was trained as a ticket agent and despite my protests, eventually went on to lost baggage, due in part to my "excellent customer service skills", or so my new supervisor told me.

One evening an irate intoxicated passenger reached across the counter for my scarf. He wanted his bag pulled from a container. Because I could get no assistance from the senior, ready to retire gang in the back room, I had to leave the podium and attempt to retrieve the bag myself. In doing so, I injured my lower back.

I saw the UAL flight surgeon at SFOMD and then saw my own doctor who did an MRI and informed me I had two herniated discs at L 2 and 3.

In order to keep my TD coming, UAL forced me to see their quack at SFOMD every three or four months. The doctor told me there was nothing wrong with me, despite the MRI I had in my hands. I asked her how she could take a hypocratic oath and lie through her teeth.

With the threatening certified letters and phone calls continually coming to my home, I was forced to retain an attorney.

I was lucky compared to what others appear to have gone through since then, as my attorney secured on going treatment, retraining and a generous settlement for me, finally culminating in 1992. The new workers comp laws in California make it increasingly difficult for anyone to get the medical treatment they need these days.

I too believe that there is life outside of UAL!

February 1, 2006

I'm a former employee. I'll tell my story another time. Yes, 13 years of blood, sweat and tears. Giving up evenings weekends and holidays with my family to get kicked in the a$$.

What I really want to address is how the Chicago media is all over "United flying out of bankruptcy." Talk about putting perfume on a pig!

They "flew" out of bankruptcy after three years of taking everything away from the employees who have given up their lives to make that company work. What are they getting? That's right, they get to keep their job! After cutting 30% of the work force. That's what they, the management, drills into your head. You are lucky you have a job. However, the upper management are all getting bonuses. HUH?

The company is still losing how many millions a day and the management gets a bonus? Others are making $8.00 to $10.00 an hour to get abused not only by the public, but by the management. That's right UA employees who are all still there, you are lucky you still have a job.

The public needs to wake up and smell the coffee. I know for a fact that company does NOT care about customer satisfaction. They have stripped all the front line employees of any type of empowerment. If an employee does make an exception, they get fired for it. UA cites it as stealing from the company.

I say give me a break!

Any UA employees out there reading this: LISTEN TO ME - there is a life after United. YOU WILL get a much better job, that pays well and has great benefits. It's very scary to leave after so many years of dedication, but there are other jobs that will really value your knowledge and loyalty.

January 31, 2006

I have been a flight attendant for UAL since 1995. I had an injury on the job in 2002 and was unable to work. I then had surgery, PT, etc. but in Sept. 2005, received a letter of termination. Not only am I angry, I am, hurt, scared and devastated. United did not give me a chance to heal. I now not only suffer physically but also emotionally. I need help -- what to do now?

January 30, 2006

In May 1995, I started at United Airlines in Reservations & Sales. From there I worked a job temp assignment in 1997 in Flight Attendant Recruitment. I was used to giving my very best and only wanted to work for the very best. Foolishly, I thought that United Airlines was the company for me. I worked hard: in 1988, after flying for just 2 years, I was honored for on-board service. That same year, I was honored again by UAL as "Humanitarian of the year." I spoke to at-risk school kids about the importance of staying in school. I encouraged them that if they did, they could be like me and work for a company like United Airlines (yuck-yuck). I have since repented from this lie!

Despite the recognition for my hard work, I had to contend with an extremely hostile supervisor. She would brief the crew before I arrived and tell them that I had an emotional problem. She stalked me in the bathroom. She followed me from my gates when I deplaned. She called my house and sent mail to my home. She encouraged other Flight Attendants to file false reports about me and generated stacks of them herself. One such report indicated that I struck a passenger with a soda can. She approached me on the United bus on the way to the parking lot and shoved me as I was getting off the bus. If a passenger wrote something good about me, she destroyed it.

Once, I was assaulted by a passenger (thrown across the plane) because his headset did not work. The flight was a turn in Toronto. Needless to say the crew did not help, and the pilot never filed his report. This was a level 2 assault. The FAA and the Union did nothing. However because there was no crew to turn the plane around I sucked up my pain and worked the flight back to Chicago. I was told by OPS that they sent a glowing report of my professionalism and concern for the passengers traveling to Chicago thereby putting myself second. As I sat in my Supervisor's office, she pulled up the "pat on the back" memo from OPS. I saw it on her screen and asked for a copy. She then said, "Oops! Somehow I deleted it. Oh, well. Forget about it."

I was off work from stress for 3 months due to her harassment. My doctor finally told me I could return to work. But then, my supervisor sent a false report to Dr. McGuffin of United Medical stating that I hated being a Flight Attendant. Once again I was removed from my trips. I endured this type of treatment from 2001 until 2005. I sought out the Union but they did nothing, siding instead with the Supervisor.

After more harassment, I sought help outside of the airline. Finally, my Supervisor and her office-mate were removed from their posts. In the meantime though, my nerves were frazzled and I began to lose my hair. Another Supervisor, known for his penchant for getting rid of "trouble" Flight Attendants, took over. I was on his team for one week when he called me in for a performance review. He took my handbook and gave me a loaner, severely out of sequence and missing pages. Later, I asked the coordinator if I could retrieve my original handbook from his office. The following day I was brought up on charges for breaking into United's property and stealing United's property, even though it was in my $25 binder!

I walked out of United Airlines in May 2005 and have never returned. Today, I had to check into the welfare department for food stamps or cash. I lost everything due to Management mobbing, defamation of character, false reports, and lack of Union Support. I have literally lost everything. I have no income, no employment compensation, and no legal help. Either I don't have the money or my clock time (statute of limitations) has run out.

I miss my friends, the layovers, and the fun crew, but since leaving, I finally feel good about myself again. It took my family and my community to put me back together -- they will never fly United. They watched me go from happy to distraught and broke. Though I lost everything and have to start over, I have peace. And that's more than United is giving anyone. In fact they are literally killing flight attendants who can't take care of their well-being. Thanks for letting me share. Oh yeah, where is the United Airline Battered Flight Attendant shelter located in Chicago? Put that on the 'to do list' real soon.

Thank God for "Untied" where I can see others have been treated unfairly by this sorry company and it's not just me. If there's every a class-action lawsuit, please sign me up!

Ed: I help monitor the Untied.com website. I was a USAF pilot for 13 years, then went to UAL as a 727 pilot. I was fired after 11 months for fabricated reasons. The stories from people like you and me are all similar. I received numerous commendations for outstanding service, and even received a rare "outstanding" on my initial checkride. Yet, because I dared to keep my integrity I was abruptly fired on made-up charges. (UAL has been cheating on maintenance for years, and while I was there they were also cheating on crew rest requirements, training requirements, and they were lying in their maintenance logbooks.) My life is so much better post-UAL, and I'm sure yours will be as well. Management is scum -- there's no other way to describe it. Just be glad you are out of their deceitful web and continue to tell everyone you know -- including government officials and any FAA people that will listen -- how UAL really operates their unsafe airline.

Readers and other UALers are welcome to contact this former employee at glaycerj@yahoo.com

October 31, 2005

I have been on w/c since 2001. My medical treatments have been denied and delayed over and over. Medical not reimbursed and TTD not paid in full. Because of that my condition will be rated 100% disabled. I am on a third WC attorney and still can't get paid. I am fed up! I am looking to file outside of workers comp system, possibly class action law suit. Would you know other FAs, or other UAL employees that are in the same possition? I am tired of beeing pushed in to poverty while my health deteriorates, so Gallagher Bassett can make a profit.

October 24, 2005

I was forced to resign after UAL would not extend family leave or allow a regular leave of absence for me. My mother was terminally ill and I was her sole caregiver. During this time I was also in a car accident and they gave false and erroneous information to the insurance carrier which caused a reduction in my settlement. Is this legal?

October 11, 2005

I was a flight attendant with UAL from 1999-2003, based out of EWR and JFK. Any passengers who think they've received "go-the-extra-mile" service from UAL should be aware of a few things about this service, as well as the contradiction that this airline doesn't have the decency to treat its own employees as human beings, with a modicum of truth and dignity.

First thing, the emergency training that flight attendants receive is a total joke: we were given only 5 days, whereas they drilled first-class service into us for 5 weeks. What does that tell you?

When I was purser in first class, we were told to start taking dinner orders with the passengers with the most accumulated miles, then tell those with the least miles that we simply ran out of their choice. Not so bad if this policy were communicated honestly and openly, but management wanted us to be deceitful about it. I got "caught" a few times so I sat down and told the passengers the whole truth about UAL policy.

I made many business-card sized copies of the UAL head office address in Elk Grove Village and the telephone number for complaints. I carried these on flights to give out to the many disgruntled passengers who weren't placated by offering them large amounts of alcohol.

After 9/11, I went on sick leave. I was totally harrassed by a supervisor in EWR for calling in sick. During this time, the airline was obligated to pay my disability, but being the cheap bastards that they are, they do what they can to shake you down. Thus, despite the documentation of my own MD, which was sent to UAL, indicating that I was totally unfit mentally, let alone, physically, to fly, the airline kept calling me in to their "MD" at JFK, Dr. Weiss. When they threatened me with termination, after my MD told me to stay in FLA to heal, I gave them my final address and phone number as those belonging to cemetery.

I hired a lawyer for a Social Security Act claim (over which bankrupty protection has no influence, as it's a government controlled process) and won the case on appeal. Damages awarded included all my back pay (approx. $15,000). Of course, UAL wanted most of that amount paid back to Cigna, their disablity carrier. I paid some of it to them but kept the rest to rent a place to live at the time. UAL then sent the matter to a collection agency. They threatened to take my home (none), car (none), assests (as a UAL Flight Attendant? you've got to be kidding! what assets?) and garnish wages (none). When I told them about Section 207 of the SSA Disablity Act, which basically states that no one can touch the Disability award except the government, they were forced to back off and discharge all the monies that I owed to Cigna.

September 25, 2005

I have nearly seven years seniority and have been furloughed for eight months now. I was a service director with an excellent performance record. I have customer appreciation letters to prove it. If and when I get called back, I will be making close to what I started at with even poorer working conditions than before. I understand that management has a job to do, but knocking down the morale of the CSRs should not be included in their list of duties. There are a couple of supervisors here that were fired as CSRs. Wow. What am I missing? And bless the heart of the union. They have saved so many peoples jobs who should have been canned years ago. I have witnessed co workers with over 20 years seniorty who are lazy, rude, and have no desire to take care of our passengers. Hmmm. It's a sad fact that this company is not about customer service, but about time served. I agree that many of our senior agents are very hardworking, consciencious workers who have sadly been screwed by this company and they are pretty much "stuck" where they are. And do not blame 9-11. All carriers were in the same boat and not all are in our position. The top dogs should be incarcerated for their poor business decisions like any criminal should. It's elementary that it's not what you know but who you blow.

August 10, 2005

I am former employee of UAL. I had to go out on disability when my EIS ran out because of a work related injury. After I injured my back at UAL I was labeled a liability. And so my personal hell began. The last injury date that put me out was 1997. UAL wont settle, why should they the new comp reforms are the greatest thing since slice bread. Or so they think. I have joined a group called, "Injured voters. Org." Through membership help they are lobbing our State Representatives to beat back the ridiculous reforms instituted by the Terminator. Ironically Injured voters tells me that the litigation costs for the insurance companies has skyrocketed because almost all treatment is being denied by the new insurance independent, (ya right!) review board. This forces the workers and their Attorneys to litigate thus increasing the amount of billed hours for the Attorneys representing the Insurance companies. I have provided the address to the Injured Voters web site. Please consider becoming a member. It seems votes are what our Representatives listen too.

Another reader comments:

Note that viaw.org is an organization funded by and pretty much controlled by the California Applicants Attorneys Association. They may lobby legislators to change the laws, but so far they have been ineffective at doing much of anything other than taking money from California's occupationally injured.

June 14, 2005

I have been workng for United employee since 1986. I am not anymore due to an injury. I am still listed as an employee but not working and not getting paid. I still have 2 years to return to work if I choose, But I seriuosly doubt I will return to a company that has destroyed it's employees. There were so many ways to save money without destroying our pensions. The whole time the airline has been in bankruptcy they have hired more upper level management and still have that terrible mileage plus program, along with the premier crap. All that does is cost money. Southwest doesn't have it and they may be different in many respects to United but they are an airline. They are making money hand over fist. They are an excellent business model that should be followed by anyone or company. One thing that has not changed in the time of the company's bankruptcy is the managment mentality and the way it does business. It is a dinosaur way of thinking and is killing the company and the employees morale. I hope that those still there the best and well being whether they stay with it or leave. I never hated the job itself at United just the way the company was ran in recent years and the treatment of the employees.

June 13, 2005

Sadly, I am facing another furlough in July. It is just weeks now until I turn in my badge, clear out my mailbox and say goodbye to my dear friends at LAX where I am a CSR.

I will miss my customers. I will miss my favorite supervisors, I will miss putting up my hair, pinning on my name and tying my scarf with pride.

Strange enough, it is only happening at LAX. A massive hiring is happening out there to recruit college students and train them to take the jobs of loyal employees. We will lose our wages, our benefits, our dignity as we walk out the door and watch someone else walk in and take over our jobs for less money, less benefits. We've already given back almost 14% or our wages, benefits and hours. The cut backs have been tremendous, and still we work, we service, we give, we only ask to keep our jobs.

I have never disserviced a customer because UA has asked me to give up my wages and benefits. Why is it that UA is now asking us to give up our jobs?

Oh yes, then there is the union. I forgot. UA's hands are tied to the union contract. Furlough employees who are on the bottom of the payscale already, keep the ones who are at the top. Furlough employees that are an asset to the company, keep the employees who could give a hoot about the customers. Yes, now it all makes sense to me now.

hmmm.....

Employees that were furloughed after 9/11 and not recalled (as I was) have been given extended flight benefits for 5 years. We will leave with only 6 months of flight benefits. We don't fall under that "extended" benefits contract. I guess that's fair....hmmm..

Like our mom's said to us when we were kids "life isn't fair"...Moms are always right...

June 10, 2005

My mother and stepdad work/worked for Unitewd Airlines. My mom has been there for 18 years, my stepdad retired, two years ago, with 31 years. My mom has worked the ramp,the ticket counter, and the gate. She's been the employee that picks up everyone else's slack, and works hard enough to put everyone else to shame. My stepdad is a wounded Vietnam Veteran. Up until his last two years of employment, before his wounded leg became less and less tolerable, he had a fantastic attendance record.

Watching my parents work always made me proud. Most of the time, my mom (for the entire 18 years that she's worked for United, especially after re-location) has NOT taken a lunch break. But, if she does get a break, it's only long enough to use the bathroom, cram a granola bar in her mouth and run back up to the gate.

My mom, two years ago, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She has little energy, and has been advised, by every single doctor she's ever visited, to QUIT her stressful, sickening pathetic job. Throughout the years, I can think of at least 8 times that my mom or step dad have had to call the cops because of an irate customer. My mom's had coffee thrown in her face, she's been spit on, threatened and stalked. She remained loyal to the company, nonetheless.

Every once in a while, I would fly stand-by to visit my dad, and I'd sit at my mom's gate and watch her work. The disrespect, stupidity and complete lack of humanity that I witnessed from partner airlines, customers and the general public was astounding. I cannot beleive how much stress and hate my mom tolerates on a day to day basis. 40 hours a week. With MS. And stress is supposedly the worst trigger of a dibilitating MS attack. She gets up every morning at 2:45, drives an hour to work, and gets harassed for eight hours. Then, on top of that, her insurance isn't accepted in most reasonable doctor's office. United's corporate decided to drop the benefits. Her medicine costs $1,000 a month, and United, after 18 years of loyal service is too greedy and dispicable to do their part.

My step dad's retirement plan is expected to drop 27-57%. My mom will not get a retirement at all. They also have endured many pay-cuts. Every penny my parents have received, they've earned with their upmost blood, sweat and tears. I dread hearing my mom start her car every morning to leave for the hell hole otherwise known as United airlines. I'm afraid she won't come back in good shape.That's what MS will do to you.

I can't beleive how poorly the hard-working Americans for this greedy corporation are treated. I hope that the multi-millionaires get a good laugh out of all the homes they've wrecked. I'm sure that's all it's worth to them. It makes me sick to think that at one point, my parents actually beleived that they had a career, insurance, retirement and stability. Maybe all the greedy jerks at the top of the corporate food chain can get MS too...Then you may know a fourth of the pain my family feels every day.

I've watched my family go from stable and well-off to struggling and stressed. In the last five years, United has done nothing but wreck the lives of loyal people. You can't blame this on bankruptcy. Blame this on the dirty, dirty habit of a cliche corporate world....greed. Thanks for ruining everyone's life. Make sure your kids know how they've earned all their precious pruiivelages and posessions....through the slavery of others!

June 6, 2005

I regularly go to the The-Mechanics web site when I found yours. I am a former UAL mechanic that was forced into retirement in May 2003 and I am now consirned about the recent decission to hand over UAL's pension funding to the PBGC. I think that judge Wedoff's decision is a joke. I don't know of anyone in the labor force that makes any UAL policy or BOD decisions. YET, Wedoff desided to "punish" labor by cuting their pensions and in turn does nothing to those that were and are directly responcible for UAL's present situation. Unfortunately, it also looks like UAL has managed to buyoff most of their unions to support concessions.

June 3, 2005

As a former employee of United Airlines, for a very short time, I couldn't help but want to put in a comment about what United is doing to it's employees now. The reason I was a short term employee was because I would not work for people who treated their employees with so little respect. I read the letters on this site and can absolutely believe why there are so many customer complaints. I don't believe I have ever worked with more miserable people in my life. Now the problems with the pensions. I don't believe this airline should be bailed out anymore by the government...let it shut down. How long must the taxpayers continue to support an airline that is so poorly managed!

May 24, 2005

After reading all these entries, some rather valid and credible, and still others of suspicious content, I am amazed that no one has mentioned or even hinted at the past transgressions of some of the unions with their extortionary tactics and over valued worth and salary demands. There is enough blame to go a round with poor management both at the corporate level and the CB groups. Get real and recognize how much damage the unions have done as well. I'm retired, so none of this is of any real issue to me, but it needed to be said.

May 22, 2005

I too, am a UAL worker. I have been employed by the company for just under a year now, it is by far the worst company that I have ever worked for. At first it was all fun, and good, I got along with most everyone. After a year though things changed.

First of us, how dare United take away what little money I was making. My $10.02 an hour did not warrant a pay cut. And second of all how could they take away the pensions of the people who built that company. I could care-less, but to a person of 30 years of emplyoment!?!?!

Now to talk about the workers. I work at a small line station, in the northeast. I work with some of the laziest and rudest people that I have ever met. Women who do not learn to dump the lavs, because "none of the girls know how", to people that do not know how to work the gate, or move a jet bridge after 20 years seniority. People who wont work outside, if needed, because they don't want to. Well when they wonder why the company is the way it is, I say for three reasons. The management, the workers who don't know how to work, and the IAM union.

May 18, 2005

I was a United flight attendant based at LAX for over 10 years and finally had enough. In the beginning I loved my job, my fellow employees and the vast majority of the passengers. After 2001 the entire operation changed. For junior Flight attendants (If you don't have 15-20 years in L.A. you are junior believe it or not) the work schedules became worse by the month. 12-14 hour duty days working 4-5 days (with as many fights per day) at a stretch became the norm. Flight attendants with my limited amount of seniority at United did ALL the heavy grunt work which included extremely long duty days, short layovers and multiple leg flights day in and day out. If I wanted to work at Southwest, I would have applied with them! With little chance of ever being able to fly the easier International routes (reserved for attendants with many years of service-in some cases 40+ years) I decided to leave this once great airline. Many of us say "this is not the job I signed up for and it is NOT". I submitted my resignation and a huge weight is now off my chest. I will miss the fun crews, in some cases great passengers but not the truly awful work schedule. With additional pay cuts planned, I believe it is United's goal to reduce all of our pay to Jet Blue's levels. These salaries are basically poverty wages in the large metropolitan areas that United has bases and I chose to move on with my life.

May 17, 2005

Has anyone really sat down and read all there is to know about what is happening to us. I am a ramp employee at ohare and have worked in the airline industry for 20 years. I joined united in 1992 who then was the best airline to work for in the entire airline industry. I can remember working a gate that had 5-6 757's daily all full of passengers, mail, freight, and yes baggage. throughout each day with the back to back flights and going home tired as can be I can remember how good it felt just being part of the company and my fellow co-workers and no matter how hard we worked we left with a good feeling inside. like I believe it was for everyone it was exciting to work there. Today however is not so happy, I can agree with everyone about our pensions, our pay and benefits but how about the damage to the morale and the depression that lingers all around us each day. I can remember the laughs we use to have and now we all need therapy just to get through the day. I hope for all of us that one day we will have the morale that is needed to become successful. With this I leave you all with one note that no matter what, they can't take our souls.

May 17, 2005

I am completely saddend by the way United has handled its devoted employees since this whole bankruptcy situation. I cleaned airplanes for 25 years for this company. I was terminated yes thats the word they used when they out sourced my job. Three months before the termination I got hurt at work and cracked two vertabre. I was on L and I at the time. United quit paying me and cut me off from wages and medical. It has been almost three years since then and I havent recovered. The injury was such a shock to my body that I developed fibromyalgia. I will never be able to work again. I am fifty years old and cannot get retirement. I am afraid the retirement I will get five years from now will not even pay the utility bills. I have a law suit but my was turned down the first time. I appealed and it is going to mediation in June. I doubt that I will get anything from this company. But what I have gotten was beaten and pushed to the ground so low that I will never be the same again. This is how I have been treated. For the few people that are current employees and who stick up for this disgusting company good luck to you! You need it!

May 15, 2005

I had mediation yesterday, and was told "Association of FlighT Attendants has 30 days to review my file and decide whether to pursue arbitration". At mediation, UAL "offered" me the option of resigning so it would not permanently affect my employment "record"...(is that like a criminal record?). I turned it down because AFA's attorney (who prior to yesterday I misunderstood as being mine, too) pushed me to accept their offer, since "there are so many time limitations for filing discrimination and harassment suits", and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) does not apply to Flight Attendants because none of us work enough to legally qualify (then why did they award it to me?)

It was awarded as a result of asthma, which no doubt worsened when they started changing the air filters on the airlplanes even less frequently than they did prior to 9/11.

There are too many incidents to bring up to you here, but all of my co workers know that the Station Manager in EWR/PHL (where I was based) looked and looked for anything to happen that could be used to terminate my employment after a series of events led her to believe I needed to go because I'm a "whistle blower".

Incidentally, you should know this: on your website there is an article from a Flight Attendant regarding UAL's response to requests for a new crew hotel in LA following a rape and assault in front of the Westin Bonaventure. Two days after that girl was raped, I requested a different layover hotel prior to my trip. I was told "at this time it is much more efficient to keep you all at the Bonaventure. If you want to leave the hotel, you should not go alone". I was the girl who was assaulted in front of the hotel. It was 3:00 in the afternoon- and I was not alone.

May 13, 2005

I have been with United for 21 years. It is really a sad day for us all. I do not understand why the bankruptcy Judge Wedoff did not force upper management to cut from the top in this reorganization of our company? The top management has continued to hire or promote managers to new positions. Why didn't we cut them? In reservations, we had 1 supervisor for each 60-70 agents and now we have double the amount 1 for 35 agents. They are there to constantly monitor every call, listening to every word and every key stroke is taped. They are trying to get rid of any employee who has been with UAL for a while, and continually hire new hires at 8.24 an hour, and of course replace us with India 2 offices and Nova Scotia office. A lot of the work has been moved to those and Mexico res. is growing. They are not up front with us. They think we don't know they are in the Phillipines, setting up more outsourcing. It would be nice to be treated like adults and not small children in reservations. Depressing.....and very sad day at UAL.

May 12, 2005

I was a United Airlines flight attendant from 2000 until I resigned in mid-2004 (and thank God I did.) I had flown for another, now defunct airline for many years, and loved every minute of it. I HATED working for United. Every day was a nightmare.

UAL has the sickest management in the world. I can give you numerous examples, many of them having to do with their handling of the tragedies of 9/11**, but I won't go into that. I will just give you one good example to sum up what wackos are in charge at UAL.

When I was pregnant with my son in 2000, my supervisor and I were having a casual conversation in the domicile. I think I was getting ready to work a flight. In any case, the supervisor thought it appropriate to share with me how her own baby had been BORN DEAD so many years back. She included all the gory details.

Now, I'm sorry, but I don't think this appropriate 'office small talk', nor do I think it a very nice story to share with a pregnant woman, never mind one that is your 'underling'. Being this supervisor's 'underling', I had to just stand there and listen. (This is the same woman who would then repremand me for not having my hair up properly.)

Unfortunately, the above mentioned supervisor was the rule at UAL rather than the exception. The exception was my next supervisor, who had been hired by UAL right before 9/11, then went to work for Jet Blue, then got recalled by United and left Jet Blue, and stated to me that going back to UAL was the worst mistake he had ever made.

There are one or two 'Marilyns' among all the 'Munsters' management/corporate at UAL...but very few.

(Okay...I'll add one 9/11 story from my own experience. I don't live far from The WTC, and my daughter witnessed a plane hit the tower. Very shortly after 9/11, when I confided in another UAL supervisor that my daughter (age 9) was very traumatized by seeing the plane hit the tower, this supervisor's response was a curt "Well, then I guess you're just not cut out to be a flight attendant." Thank Goodness for Project Liberty, who my union sent to my home, and who diagnosed my daughter with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You better believe UAL provided NO support to the flight attendants or their families.)

May 11, 2005

Today's news headline is UAL's approval to dump the pensions. Why is it the federal government does not look into this company and identify exactly where our 4 billion surplus went. When Goodwin said we were "hemmoraging money," did anyone see who the vampires were?

What protects these poor decision makers from a grand jury investigation? Some of that 4 billion?

May 11, 2005

Being an ex UAL Management employee, I don't see everything wrong with UAL. After all, if I didn't have such a crappy boss, I would never have been nominated for leadership awards with my own company. After all, I just did the exact reverse of everything he did and here I am. Next month I am being recognized as a INC Magazine Fastest Growing company and this is all because I do the exact opposite of what [name omitted] taught us. Thank goodness for people who fly BP5A (priority boarding for business-related trips) with wives to Japan in confirmed first class or allow his staff like [name omitted] go to LHR to watch musicals all expenses paid. They are the chosen losers who will continue to lead UAL to great heights. About 2 inches lower than my crotch.

May 10, 2005

I am a past employee of UAL. I worked in SEA reservations for almost 8 years! When the new productivity rules went into effect.. Look out!! Basically you would only have under 5 minutes to goto the restroom, get something to drink, handle personal business issues--and that is in an 8 hour shift. They treated us like robots... If a supervisor wanted to talk to us, you could kiss your productivity goodbye for the day--because it would count against us!!

The SEA res office is closing as of June 4th, 2005 and I feel for SO many past co workers that have given UAL EVERYTHING. 20-30 years with the company and now they are telling them they have to move to DC, Chicago, Hawaii, or they can take severance pay with a furlough, or severance pay and cut all ties with UNITED!! These people are about to retire in less than 2-4 years!!! What are they suppose to do??? They have been there for the company sooo many years and this is the thanks that they get!!

Corporate doesn't care at United and it is really sad.

I left United and started flying with JetBlue...believe me!! what a difference....the way the CEO, COO, managers treat the employees...shows in how we treat customers!!!

May 2, 2005

This is a note to the AFA or any other United Group that believes UAL management is treating employees fairly and equitably.

If anyone would check the salaries of United Airlines Managment, especially the "I" level and above, they would find that many have received "Snap Backs", Raises and Bonuses since their January 1st "pay-cuts".

While the front line employees continue to get wage and benefit cuts many Managers, Directors, Vice-Presidents and Senior Officers received Snap Backs, Raises and Massive Bonus payments even above their 2004 rates.

The morally bankrupt leaders of United continue to line their pockets by stealing from the employees who actually do the work. While most employee groups continue to be squeezed, the Management of United Airlines continues to pursue their own selfish interests at the expense of the investors and employees.

Demand transparency from United Airlines Management. Demand honesty from United Airlines Management. Demand accountability from United Airlines Management.

April 22, 2005

I'm not a direct employee of united, or a customer, but under the same prospects as a contracted employe I must have my voice heard. In the next few months to come, at united there will be new changes that will effect the direct employee and the customer. They have recently filed again for bankruptcy yet again, and are now planning on removing the main source of the united customer relations with contracted sources. Under this next move, the main corrupted sources that are still bring the company down will be protected. The one's who are taking bonuses for letting go 60 percent of the main effectiveness of the work force that makes the company work, the employees. The C.E.O of united is taking bounces, not for the effectiveness of the company, but how thay can save them selves. By the end of this effective work year, they will have the main work forces contracted, while they the Big Wig Fat cats still take money out of of a dying company, and they well know it. These are not the bonuses that they deserve, it's just what they can take before its over, and it's all at the expense of the current employee, and customer.

April 13, 2005

I also used to dislike this website but since our management has turned the company upside down- it seems that this is the only place for people to address thier issues with United and be heard.

I wish the traveling public could know how bad the flight attendants are treated on a daily basis about thier sick leave or family leave request. After flying for ten years and putting up with the crap from them and the new work rules which is killing some of us. I chose to leave and move onto better things- The morale at the company is so bad, they better watch what cuts they ask for next. Most of the flight attendants are finished putting up with the crap that's being shoved down thier throats.

January 12, 2005

I've been a UAL employee for the better of 27 years have been layed up with a back and shoulder injury for eight months, forced to go back to work, robbed by the sake of ESOP, and refunded any 401 k monies that had been put aside for my families retirement. The stock is worthless, not to mention that we have financed the company with pay cut after pay cut; how can we send our kids to school and make the mortgage payments?

Now they change the work rules with all the Unions on the grounds they are bankrupt, lay off countless cleaners, replace all the hired people from SCRUB with others on work visas, who in turn will be replaced by new bodies once their visas are up. Mechanics have been outsourced and soon the bag handlers...

Loyalty has been flushed down the lav. buddy. Did anyone tell the higher ups that you get more out of people when you treat them with respect and dignity? That was not a college course was it? Let me put on a $1000 suit and go lie to people. For the sake of the investors? Not! They have been robbed also. Who is going to investigate this Company?

December 10, 2004

Dear Mr. Tilton,

There are moments when the individual must stand up and speak out on critical issues, and today at United Airlines is one of those times. My perspective on the airline industry, and United in particular, spans forty years. You are a newcomer to the company; I on the other hand started working for UAL in April 1964, have been honored as Flight Attendant of the Year, and have a lengthy history of service to the company in which personal excellence was my chosen sole alternative. So you and the other executives should bear close attention to what I have to say.

A big, and potentially fatal, change in corporate culture has swept across America during the past four decades, and United Airlines has been a part of this. What is different now? The "family" business environment that I happily entered into all those years ago, where everyone helped each other and executive doors were open to the rank and file, is gone. Now employees are treated like peons of little value, completely fungible, and with no right to full disclosure or even common decency from management. While executives are awarded immense salaries and golden parachutes, the lowly workers are viewed as an enemy to be held at bay, lied to as needed, and at retirement tossed over the side like garbage. The intolerable pattern does not end there. Terms of security provided in retirement income and medical benefits are not safe and can be truncated without warning. As a result, at UAL there is a wide spread culture of fear and apprehension completely unrelated to the present bankruptcy negotiations. Supposedly, by July of this year bankruptcy will no longer be an issue. The fear will continue.

I place the blame for this on you and those like you. I have witnessed unimaginable increases in your incomes and benefits while you fight to keep our worker wages as low as possible, even as they are gnawed away by inflation. The model now is a Time magazine photograph of a recent UAL chief executive announcing his status as the highest paid CEO in the world, which same executive was at that moment traveling the country asking flight attendants to accept a voluntary 10% pay cut. He was earning more money than all the flight attendants together, and some B-scale attendants were already below the federally-defined poverty level, yet his obscene income was sacrosanct while their's should be adjusted downward "for the good of the company."

The main causes of United's problems right now are managerial arrogance, poor understanding of the realities of day-to-day flying, and quite frequently arrant stupidity right at the top. The carpetbagger executives intending to bump-and-go with suitcases full of money have no reason to care whether their policies are contradictory or shortsighted, and they don't. After all, none of them have given their lives to the company. They are here for just a few years, and their motivation is to sweep through the accounts and bail out. Anything that doesn't glaringly undermine is fine. Stay right on the edge of the legal parameters, but just the edge. Then hop off the bubble before it breaks. Tens of thousands are injured, you say? Well, we all must make decisions in a free market economy. No one had to work for an airline, particularly United. If you have a problem with that idea, tough. And turn off the lights on your way out.

But how could this sort of thing come to pass? What has happened to higher management? The answer is simple: Hotshots with MBAs from name-brand schools, who scored big on theory courses, cannot balance out in any industry without listening to people who have been on site for decades and know how this business, this one, actually works. Unlike during my early years of flying for United, the period building up to bankruptcy was attended with an unending series of micro-managerial screw-ups that could have been avoided. This could have been done just by asking a few questions and looking at our history -- instead of buying consultation contracts that were as expensive as they were cock-eyed. Repaint the planes, swap out the china, alter the uniforms, change the tray configurations, hand them scarves that must be dry cleaned, lengthen the trips, cut down rest periods between flights, and on and on. But don't even think about trimming the number of marginal junior executives, and for Heaven's sake don't consider knocking back top management incomes during hard times!

And how about this? Lets see: United is struggling through bankruptcy problems right now, and times are rough. How can we make some quick cash? I know, gang; lets put together a show in the garage, the neighbors will all come to see it, and we'll be in great shape! No, no! I have a better idea: let's try another short-haul paste-on airline! It didn't work last time, but on the principle that spoiled milk will taste sweet the second time you sip it, let's give it another try! Where's my banjo?

There's something else wrong with the big shots at United. In addition to the arrogance-inexperience-stupidity triad, we turn to your flat-out dishonesty and unethical treatment of workers. In a business where success is measured even on the short-call by interaction of workers with the public, you have maintained a consistent policy of their mistreatment, all the while saying that you are doing the very best you can. You think that holding down wages and creating a hostile work environment won't be noticed by the dumb-bunnies you've hired, or that they won't pass it on to the customers? Perhaps you imagine that handing us "attaboy" pins once in a while will cloak United with a veil of invisibility if you consult the right witch doctor. Sorry, that hasn't happened. I have a box of attaboys and 20-20 vision to prove it.

The most egregiously unethical thing high management has done is to bait-and-switch United's retirement policies. That's right, we have noticed what you're doing. No doubt guided by the Bush Administration's "see it then, see it now" approach to politics, the UAL promises I actually believed have been shaken in front of me, then pulled away in the most outrageous bit of managerial presto-gizmo I ever heard of. I dream of broken promises...

Fly free for the rest of your life? Well, you misunderstood. You actually will have to pay something, and since booking has gotten a lot better you may stand around Kalamazoo waiting for your cattle car seat out, but it's better than nothing, isn't it? You say you now have to pay more than the cost of the trip itself and might as well fly another airline? We'll have to look into that one. Expect a call when the whole situation is examined.

Solid, low-cost medical treatment and medicines, you say? Ummm... that's one of those cases where we meant it at the time, but times change and we have to change with them. Actually, we never formally made such a commitment. We're making a profit now, but that doesn't alter the fact that the cost of health insurance is shooting upward, so all of us have to hang in there together.

You say that a ten-fold or greater increase in medical costs hits a retired ticket agent a lot more than a retired vice-prez? Again, that's capitalism one more time. You should have made better decisions along the way.

What's that about being told retirement medical costs would never go up if you retired before you planned to, and then six months after you took the notion and retired you got a letter explaining that business conditions have forced modifications? That wasn't duplicity! We have to be business-like. Think about this in a reasonable way. Now that you can't afford your taxes and the raised costs of doctors and medicine, get out there and show what Americans are like. Get a great job (if you can find one at your age) and that will keep you going! Oh, you're supposed to be taking a break after forty years on the line? Look at it this way: working until you die is normal in most countries.

Mr. Tilton, if you examine my personnel file you will see a number of letters there that I wrote over the years describing conditions, answering questions, applauding good work, and offering suggestions for improvements. The paper those letters were written on is still crisp as the day I mailed them, since few up there pay any attention to the serfs doing the actual work for United Airlines. In the case of this letter right here, whoever the secretary is who opens and reads your unsolicited mail had better sit up, pay attention, and pass it on to you, because this one goes out to the media and onto the internet the day it arrives in your office. You have plenty to answer for, and now the genie is out of the bottle.

Have a nice day.

Yours truly,

(EDITED OUT
ORDSW F/A)

November 14, 2004

I just wanted to say that I used to hate this web site because I couldn't imagine someone hating my company so bad. Then I met the ugly face of UA management head on!

While of a flight from Chicago to San Diego, a very drunk passenger knocked me off my seat and caused my miniscus to tear. Well, of course I needed to have surgery to correct my knee. When I called UA to tell them that I needed to take a couple of weeks off they flipped! Even after I provided 6 pages of documentation from my doctor's office and the hospital they needed more. Continued to call me EVERY day for almost a month demanding I provide more documentation or return to work. The supervisors did all they could to try to terminate me. By then I had enough and sent in my letter of resignation. It wasn't worth my stress to keep a job with a morally and finacially bankrupt company.

GET THIS...about 2 months after I quit UA send me a BILL for employee pass travel from 9 months prior! I called them and told them they are on my list of creditors and will advise them when I am ready to address their claim. :-)

Ramon Tachiquin, San Diego

October 9, 2004

I was called into the office the begining of May 2004 and was asked questions regarding some ticketing that I had done and was told at the end that I was being investigated for waiving the $100 penalty for our customers. They made me sign a confidentiality clause and told me if I leaked any info I could be terminated for this. It was another week or so that they called me in again and asked more questions about ticketing in 2002. I told them I don't remember what I did yesterday much less back in 2002. We were in the ramp ready room in terminal 5 and overheard a ramp supervisor telling the ramp agents that another employee and I were under investigation for waiving penalty tickets.

They called me in the latter part of May and walked me off the property taking my badge without charging me. My shop steward complained that per the contract they could not do this without charges and hold me out of service and not pay me. They gave me a sheet and told me that my hearing would be on a date in June and that it would be heard in front of an arbitrator.

On the day of my hearing there were 2 ual supervisors, 2 shop stewards and the arbitrator, a member of UAL management. What kind of fair shake was I going to get? Anyway we went through with this taking 3 hours for the meeting. I was told by the arbitrator that I would hear something in 2 weeks. A month later I still had not heard anything and kept caling the union trying to get an update. My friend that was going through this with me called in and quit. The very next day I got a call from another supervisor telling me I was terminated. They could not even call me up and bring me in to do it to my face.

I had filed for unemployement and UAL didn't even want to pay me for it either. They fought me tooth and nail tring to get me to pay it back. We went before the unemployment judge and he found in my favor that UAL had no just cause for firing me and that his ruling stands. Finally some justice.

When I was terminated (June 14, 2004), I had asked about my accrued vacation that I needed because my wife is disabled (M.S.) and is on disablity. They told me that I would not get it if I was terminated.

It took the company 3 months get rid of me and I had spent all of my savings. I needed monies to get us moved out of Chicago because we could not afford it. The Union told me that I could send a letter of resignation in and should get my vacation pay. So I sent a letter in the end of August and resigned. They accepted it -- although I had to get of the acceptance from the union -- and it then took the company over a month to get me the check. I was due 3 weeks (should have been 4) plus one day from this year. I got a check from UAL for just under $900 for 3 weeks of vacation. It should have been at least $1500. No break down of taxes or anything.

I gave this fine company 26 years of my life. I was a great employee and won many award in my 26 years with them I never gave them a moment's trouble and for them to treat me like this is unbelievable. What kind of crappy company treats its employees this way? I talk to employees at ORD and they say that this is the absolutly the worst it has ever been.

I will wrap this up now if you have any questions please call I would love to see a class action law suit come out of all of this because they are walking employees off for calling in sick for 3 occasions. For helping 100K passengers out by waiving $100 penalties. I did not once recieve anything from any of the customers I was helping. As far as the employee that I helped out we had gotten authority from another supervisor. But in the investigation no one could get a statement from him saying whether or not he gave any such ok.

Ed: Stan Lambert replies:

I'm a former UA pilot who helps monitor the activity on this site. I was fired about six years ago under ridiculous circumstances -- much like yours. It's not much consolation to you, but this happens FREQUENTLY at UAL. The management is morally bankrupt. They will lie, forge, fabricate, break the law, and operate outside of any reasonable parameters of ethics and morality. Like you, I have fond memories of those at UAL who were good and hard working employees, but I have nothing but disgust for the management. I have been particularly concerned that UAL consistently "cheats" on pilot training, crew rest, and maintenance issues, putting passengers and crews at risk. I fear it's only a matter of time before we see a huge disaster thanks to UAL's inept and immoral management.

Wed October 6 2004

I am no longer employed with this airline, but had been for quite some time. i needed to request time off [fmla] for a heart problem. After 6 attempts, my paper work was denied everytime. My doctor did call wanting an explanation on why it was denied and they could not take his call. Finally after 8 attempts calling the human resources dept they finally did call back being extremely rude and told the nurse in his office to 'quit bothering her'. I was hospitalized and was accused of lying about it. My hospital bracelet was not good enough. Keep in mind while they are making this accusation that I was wearing a heart monitor. I have since seperated my employment at the advice of my doctor. Finally after 1 month, my depression is gone and my health has gotten signifigantly better. I honestly never knew that being treated horribly at work could effect your health so much. I want everyone to read this. If they treat their internal customers this way, meaning thier own employees, how do you think they are going to treat a regular customer?????? Good luck out there to all regular customers. I wish everyone the best of luck. chances are, you will need it!!!!

Wed August 25 2004

Your site is fantastic! I work on the Ramp here in [location omitted] and [recently] injured my arm/shoulder.

An MRI revealed a complete tear/rupture of the [component omitted]. Now I'm just waiting to see an orthopedic surgeon and in the near future, will have surgery.

After nearly eighteen years with United, once you're injured, you're considered "damaged goods". You're no longer treated as human being; you cannot benefit the company in any way, and what you are is a liability.

You have helped so many people through your site. So many of my co-workers read your information on a regular basis.

Hopefully things run smooth for me in this injury; but somehow I know that United and Gallagher-Bassett are sharpening their claws as we speak.

Keep up the great work.

Mon August 23 2004

I must say that while I'm not completely surprised by some of the scenarios you describe, I can say that United's management teams are doing exactly what the "boss" wants them to do, ultimately making sure that the "ontime" perfformance is strictly adhered to. The OM's that are hired, are charged with the responsibility of making sure their individual departments operate smoothly with others in attempts to generate the most revenue , while maintaining cost-control objectives. Normally these people have been with the airline for a number of years and don't have too many other choices in seeking alternative forms of employment. Simply put, they're doing what they have to do in order to survive in today's uncertain aviation climate.

Unfortunately, I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel for these folks and those beneath them. Cost-cutting is not the only way in which to save a business, you must also demonstrate to your clients a willingness to give them the best product available-somewhat difficult to achieve when the boss is buying labor at cut-rates.

The good folks at United need to be rewarded for the jobs they're doing and not chastised for what high end management desires to have done. Last but not least, someone needs to change the delay coding procedures and not make it so political.

Sat July 10 2004

Very inappropriate (explicit/pornographic) DVD's are beening watched in the breakrooms of Ramp Service while on the graveyard shift (10:30pm - 7:00). DVD player was brought in by fellow employee. Please address this ASAP, as others are very offended by this. This has already been mentioned directly to the employee in question.

Wed April 14 2004

My grandmother had just been diagnosed with colon cancer and was rushed to the hospital. I wanted to fly out to visit her and I had the days off already in place to make this visit. Even though as a United employee I had a right to completely free standby tickets, I actually paid the regular fare for the ticket so that I could have a confirmed seat and therefore would be certain not to miss any time off work after my return.

On the day before my flight, I went to ask a supervisor if it might be possible to get a complementary upgrade. Employees always get free upgrades if space is available; however since I paid for the ticket I wasn't therefore technically travelling as an employee. The supervisor checked some details about the flight and said that at that time the flight was still not full enough to give me an operational upgrade.

However, when I checked in for my flight the next day, the person in charge of flight operations for that day offered me an upgrade, which I gratefully accepted. I could only assume that circumstances had changed from when I originally asked for the upgrade the day before. Because the day before I had been told that upgrades were not available, I did not ask again on the day, but I was still offered it and saw no wrong-doing in accepting it.

Within half an hour of accepting the upgrade I was called to the office of the supervisor who I had spoken to the day before and he fired me for having "accepted an upgrade despite being forbidden to have one". I was never "forbidden" an upgrade but told it wasn't available. When the day's flight manager offered it to me I could only assume that it now was available.

Because I had only been with the company for less than six months, I was not given the right to contest this. Aside from losing my job and the wages with it, I was also forced to lose my car, which I had only purchased because I needed it in order to travel to and from this job.

I do not want my job back with United, especially after how they unfairly and callously treated me, and after seeing first-hand how they intimidate all their employees. However, due to my frequent travel between the UK and USA, and my own private Premier Executive status, I feel very compelled to still travel with United. However, each time I travel with them I feel a certain discomfort and resentment which I feel United should address, not necessarily because I was a former employee, but more importantly, because I am an elite member of Mileage Plus.

I did write to HQ after my dismissal but was never given a reply. Instead I received a letter stating that they would not deal with litigation or any legal action because of their Chapter 11 status.

Thu October 30 2003

I am an employee who is very concerned about the hostile work environment being created by the company's overall disregard for employee moral. The drastic cuts being made to our airline is interrfeing with the succesful attaining of the goals you are making for UAL...even leading us directly away from it. You can put a spin on all the statistics you want, protect all the management positions you want, but we are all out here each and everyday and we see the truth. There is no respect for the individual. Customer or employee. We all realize that you see us as a faceless faction. Yes, I am am a member of a group but first and foremost I am an individual who is working for a living by way of longer hours with less pay. Newsflash, UAL. People work to live, not live to work!!! This job is second to my family so how can you expect loyaltly and personal initiative from us when our very qualitly of life is being pulled down with no direction? I know very well the the bottom line is all about the dollar and that these changes are for our company's survival but just take a look through the untied.com archives and see the increase of employee rudeness complaints. As an individual, I try to be above the sitution but the management/employee relations and even the employee/employee relations are AWFUL. I pray every work day that I go in that the Lord will give me serenity and divine patience to make it through another day here. The satisfaction of a job well done is very hard to maintain when the schedules just as inflexible as the rules you have created to "manage" us masses. How can you expect us all to go out and give the customer service needed to keep this airline afloat? How can you expect our understanding when there is no understanding being extended toward us? Our patience has been spent! So many times I have heard, "Be thankful you have a job." That is true but when a job starts to effect you personal sanity and family's well-being, then what? Go find another job? The job market is scarce and, besides, what about the time we have invested with this company? We've have seen this company at its best and to see it slowly crumble without our leaders' acknowledgment is truly insulting. To watch the fruits of your labor rott away is painful. We see it, our customers see it, why can't you? Our planes are disgusting. CSR's are being replaced by kiosks. The remaining are left with the personal customer demands with little backup. (*Customers still prefer to deal with a person rather than a machine.) Cleaners are being phased out. Rampers and mechanics are worked overtime. Flight attendants are cleaning planes AND serving food (disgusting). Flight crews are being pushed further and further with their duty days. Heck, longer days for all employees!!! Furloughs. Unexpected call-backs. Surplusses. As for supervisors, this is where it gets really bad, they are all trying to justify their positions with the company by demonstrating their productivity which means henpecking the CSRs, rampers, mechanics, and flight crew. Otherwise, buh-bye! What an abuse of power.(At least they still have their cushy office hours.) No wonder we are all at each others throats!!! The biggest realization I have come to is the unethical way to company preyed on our emotions after 9/11. "Keep America flying!", we all heard. We were told it is our patriotic duty. We all came to work with nervous stomachs and performed our duties as professionally as possible. Whether anyone else wants to admit it or not, I still have anxiety on our flights. If I don't have confidence in our compnay, how will the public? Oh, take comfort, passengers. The pilots are packing heat. Is that supposed to make us feel better? Our company was floundering pre-9/11 so cut the dramatics, please. At one time I was so proud of this company. I have learned NOT to to invest myself so much into an occupation. It can never go back to the way it was but please consider some positive changes for us employees. There is still much inefficiency in the system. Please take a long, hard look around you and try to see things with our perspective. I apologize for the harsh sacasm included in this note. Just please, please, please someone listen. Our airline is truly hurting... emotionally as well as financially.

Wed August 27, 2003

I am familiar with an employee who went through several investigations and false accusations that supervisors claimed to have documentation for bad performance. In the investigations, people that could substantiate the employees claims were never contacted. Even though the employee mentioned them. Unrealistic demands were made upon the employee, causing him to have to work double shifts while other employees, who could have helped him but they refused because of the nature of the work he had to do, put in 40 or less hours with nothing to do. Many co-workers are very upset about the treatment that the employee received. The employee received very negative performance evaluations, even though prior to the performance evaluation the supervisor led the employee to believe he was doing a good job. The result of the treatment to that employee was a physically damaged heart.

The employee did receive a letter that an investigation was conducted. The offending supervisors were interviewed and claimed to document the employees poor performance, including not following an action plan for improvement that was put in place. There was no action plan. The supervisor who supposedly put an action plan in place, did not know what the employee did when he wrote the evaluation because he was not his supervisor for the period he wrote the evaluation for.

Conslusion of the investigation. The supervisors were correct in there conduct and the employee was in error. One of the supervisors spent 6 months complaining about not having anything to do before they made him a supervisor.

That's right. Do nothing and get promoted. Save the company many times your salary each year and lose your health from their lies. They do stick close together.

Not only has that employee lost his health, he may lose his house if something doesn't come through very quickly.

Mon June 30, 2003

Ed: This is an update to the letter below from June 9, 2003.

Miracle of miracles- United management has decided to keep both the Philadelphia and Las Vegas flight attendant bases open! A big thank you to those who took the time to send in e mails of support! The PHL and LAS flight attendants

Mon June 9, 2003

I have been a visitor to your website for a few years now, and I am still amazed that it takes public complaint or criticism before the very inadequate management at United Airlines responds to problems. I thank you for helping to make the much-needed changes at our troubled company.

As a Philadelphia based flight attendant, I am writing you today asking for your help. On June 2, 2003, United announced its plans to close the Philadelphia and LasVegas flight attendant bases, which affects almost 600 employees. This comes after the flight attendants agreed to more than $300 million in pay cuts and work rule changes. United maintains that closing these bases is necessary to save money, but it was eight months ago that both bases accepted large numbers of transfers. People picked up and moved their families to two stations that the airline said was performing better than most, and they had no plans on closing either.

Six months later rumors started leaking out of World Headquarters in Chicago about the possible closures. United denied any plans to close Philadelphia or LasVegas. This "rumor" was confirmed last week, and in meetings to assist the employees, a United aircraft and crew scheduler told those in attendance that both bases are viable because of the flight attendants that are based there. It is the cost of maintaining offices that seems to be a financial drain.

Our union, The Association of Flight Attendants has offered the company many cost-saving alternatives. United's main goal seems to be getting the flight attendant group to agree to more concessions, and it is holding the PHL and LAS hostage. United says that the bases could stay open as "satellite" stations- all management would be administered from the Chicago hub- BUT- there could be no union presence on these two properties. This just sounds like old fashioned union-busting tactics.

We could really use the help of our loyal passengers, especially our Premier, Premier Exec, and 100K members. We are asking that e-mails be sent to UAL.COM asking United to negotiate fairly, especially after all the concessions the flight attendants have given. Less pay, longer days, reduced staffing, downgraded hotels- all to help turn around a company that management nearly destroyed. All we want is to keep flying out of our hometown airports, not move or commute to the West coast.

The key decision makers are:

• Glenn Tilton, CEO
• Jake Brace, CFO
• Charlie Ahmes, director onboard service