=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2008/08/12/BUMU1291DR= .DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, August 12, 2008 (SF Chronicle) Pilots' union demands United CEO step down Harry R. Weber, Associated Press (08-12) 04:00 PDT Atlanta -- On the same day that pilots from Delta and Northwest moved their airlines closer to a smooth merger, the union representing pilots at United Airlines urged chief executive Glenn Tilton to resign Monday, accusing him of steering the nation's No. 2 carrier down a path to poor customer service, employee morale and financial performance. UAL Corp.'s United responded in a statement that the union request "is an obvious and predictable attempt to deflect attention from" its "illegal activity" cited in court papers filed by United last month. The airline asked a federal judge to stop four pilots and their union fr= om abusing sick time and refusing to fly extra hours. The injunction request accused the Air Line Pilots Association of encouraging a sick-out, which is not allowed under the Railway Labor Act, the labor law governing airlines. It also said pilots were refusing to pick up extra flying. "We recognize market realities call for difficult decisions and resolve," United said in its statement. "We will continue to take the necessary actions that enable this company to compete in this environment and refuse to repeat the mistakes of the past, when the interest of one stakeholder was put disproportionately above balancing the needs of our customers, employees and shareholders - to the harm of all." Spokeswoman Jean Medina said Tilton will not resign. Meanwhile, pilots at Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. have approved a joint collective bargaining agreement. Ratification has been a key element of Delta's efforts to achieve a smooth integration of the two companies when it acquires Northwest later this year. Delta's pilots union issued a memo detailing the results Monday, the deadline for rank-and-file pilots of both airlines to vote. The agreement covers roughly 12,000 pilots of the two airlines. Of eligible Delta pilots who cast a ballot, 61.74 percent voted in favor of the new agreement, while 86.76 percent of eligible Northwest pilots who cast a ballot voted in favor. With ratification by both pilot groups, the joint agreement will become effective when the merger between Delta and Northwest closes, which is expected by the end of the year, Delta's pilots union said in a message to its pilots. The pilots still do not have a deal to integrate their seniority lists b= ut have agreed to submit to arbitration if they cannot come to terms on their own by today. A three-member panel has already been chosen in case arbitration is needed. Pilots value their seniority because it determines their schedule, the aircraft they fly and layoff protection. Delta's stock-swap deal to acquire Northwest, announced April 14, is subject to shareholder and U.S. regulatory approval. European regulators cleared the deal last week. At United, the pilots have stepped up criticism of top executives in recent months, angry that they have not gotten additional compensation since their pay was reduced sharply during the company's bankruptcy restructuring from 2002-06. Their pension was also terminated while UAL was under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In a statement, the United chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association sa= id United needs new leadership. It launched a Web site to draw attention to what it says have been Tilton's failures since he took over as CEO in September 2002. The Transportation Department said last week that United had the second-worst on-time rate in June, with 59.3 percent of flights arriving at scheduled times. Overall, the nation's airlines were on time more often in June compared with a year ago. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2008 SF Chronicle <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".