Asking President Obama To Intervene
The pilots of United Airlines are
asking President Obama to step in and persuade the Department of
Transportation to delay approving United Airlines' and Continental
Airlines' application for Star Alliance antitrust immunity until
protections for American workers are inserted into the filing.
UAL and Continental are seeking antitrust immunity to allow
Continental to join the Star Alliance. Alliances have increased
international flying, but at the expense of U.S. carriers. The
application is currently being reviewed by the Department of
Transportation.
In an Open Letter to the President, which appears in a full page
ad in Wednesday's edition of Roll Call, Captain Steve Wallach,
Chairman of the United Master Executive Council of the Air Line
Pilots Association, is asking President Obama to convey to the DOT
that it should fully review the antitrust immunity filing, and
consider input from all entities involved -- corporate, labor,
consumer and government agencies -- to fully understand the
ramifications of granting an approval without such protections.
"We are requesting a delay, or an approval with conditions, to
the application," said Captain Wallach in his letter to President
Obama.
"We are not opposed to the Alliance itself. However, we are
concerned that this application does not adequately address the
very real threats to American workers' jobs. There has never been a
more pressing time for you and Congress to step in to prevent even
more middle class American jobs from being outsourced. The
tentative approval of antitrust immunity for the STAR Alliance by
the Department of Transportation has opened the door for more job
losses and pay cuts for American workers.
"As you stated in your acceptance
speech, The American Promise, '... businesses should live up to
their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for
American workers, and play by the rules of the road,' and that 'our
government should work for us, not against us. It should help us,
not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with
the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing
to work.'
"Mr. President, the pilots and other employees of United
Airlines are willing to work," Captain Wallach continued. "We
proved it in 2003 when our industry faced the same challenges the
auto industry is current facing. We retooled our contracts and
wages, gave up our pensions and modified our work rules in an
effort to make our industry more competitive. Must we now also give
up our jobs?"
The Star Alliance was formed in 1997 with six airline members.
Today, it has grown to more than 20 airlines. Continental would
join United and US Airways as the only United States members of the
Star Alliance. The Star Alliance is expected to grow to 50
airlines, nearly all non-U.S. carriers.