This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@juno.com. /-------------------- advertisement -----------------------\ Share the spirit with a gift from Starbucks. Our coffee brewers & espresso machines at special holiday prices. http://www.starbucks.com/shop/subcategory.asp?catalogFname=Starbucks&categoryFname=SaleFClearance&ci=274 \----------------------------------------------------------/ United Mechanics Vote to Strike December 14, 2001 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 11:43 p.m. ET CHICAGO (AP) -- Frustrated by two years of failed negotiations, United Airlines mechanics voted overwhelmingly to strike the struggling carrier, although any walkout is unlikely for at least two months. International Association of Machinists spokesman Frank Larkin said Friday that close to 99 percent of the nearly 10,000 votes cast the previous evening supported a strike. But anticipated action from the Bush administration would make a walkout illegal before Feb. 21. A message to the union members from IAM president and general chairman Scotty Ford said the vote ``has sent a very loud and important message'' and has ``given us a very powerful tool that we intend to use.'' The IAM represents about 13,000 United mechanics, down 2,000 due to recent layoffs. ``I think the vote shows the frustration and anger of the membership,'' Ford said in a phone interview. United spokesman Joe Hopkins said the company does not expect any disruption of service as a result of the vote. ``Customers should continue to book United flights with full confidence,'' Hopkins said. He said no negotiations are currently scheduled, and he did not know when the two sides might sit down again. A 30-day federally mandated cooling-off period that is required before a strike can occur ends next week. The Bush administration has said it would extend that process when the countdown expires on Dec. 21 to prevent strike-related problems with holiday travel. The administration is expected to appoint a presidential emergency board that would then have another 60 days to try to settle the contract dispute before a strike could take place. There have been no talks since the cooling-off period began. ``The president has made it clear that given the fragility of the airline industry, the importance of the American people of enjoying the right to travel, that he would look very unkindly on any action that would interfere on those rights,'' White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said. ``And so the president is prepared, when required or necessary, to name a mediation board.'' The mechanics received their last raise in 1994. Their efforts for increased pay have been plagued by declining travel since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. United already was suffering through its worst year ever. The company withdrew its contract offer and said any immediate raise is impossible. United has cut 20,000 jobs and about 750 daily flights since Sept. 11. It lost $1.16 billion in the third quarter and said it was losing about $15 million daily this fall. Shares of UAL Corp. (news/quote), United's parent company, were off 49 cents, or 3 percent, to $14.72 in trading on the New York Stock Exchange. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-United-Mechanics.html?ex=1009445137&ei=1&en=b5dfa74fd01c7c98 HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact Alyson Racer at alyson@nytimes.com or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@nytimes.com. Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company