United Airlines parent to lay off 414 mechanics

[OhioChick]

Source: REUTERS

9 Oct, 2008, 0230 hrs IST, REUTERS

CHICAGO: UAL Corp, parent of United Airlines, on Wednesday said it would lay off 414 mechanics as part of a previously announced plan to cut 7,000 jobs companywide.

A company spokeswoman said UAL notified the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the union representing the workers, of the layoffs on Tuesday.

The layoffs would be final on Dec 7, she said.

Read more: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3575604.cms

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Merry Christmas.

[rsmith6621]

1. Unless UAL Gets Rid Of C E O Tilton

They are going to continue the downhill spiral.....the death of UAL is what Tilton wants as he has already negotiated a nice PARACHUTE for himself....

.......Tilton is a common everyday working mans TERRORIST......BTW I worked for UAL for two years.

[Coventina]

2. Well, that sure makes me feel safe!

Don't think I need it but: :sarcasm:

[kestrel91316]

3. Remind me not to fly United anytime soon, ok?

[Nambe]

4. Personally, I would be more comfortable without flight attendants.

[Heather MC]

5. This is why I don't fly, the always lay off the Mechanics first, that's too scary for my taste

And nice touch laying them off right before the Christmas Rush

STAY OFF UAL CORP of UNITED AIRLINES AFTER 12/7/08

[Gillian]

6. Actually, they are outsourcing to overseas contractors.

It has been in the news because the FAA has been found negligent in monitoring this new way to screw the mechanics.

[OhioChick]

7. Wow...

Better yet. :sarcasm:

[Nambe]

8. That explains the cheap flights to 3rd world counties. Tune-up time.

[OhioChick]

9. Yep.

Making 3 bucks a day, no less.

[kikiek]

10. Yah I just printed that story up the other day. Outsourcing jobs. They better not be looking for a

government handout. If they do they had better tell them NO until the jobs come back home!

[BlueCollar]

25. AA is the only airline doing 100% in house now

of it's heavy maintenance. Overhaul work is still done in-house.

[dana_b]

11. Merry F***in' Christmas....

and "Happy Holidays".

this is so horrible. UAL has literally gutted their staff - bare bones. Hopefully the airplanes stay safe too.

[kikiek]

12. Outsourcing of airline maintenance soars: Consumer reports

The recent epidemic of airplane groundings because of safety inspections comes even as the major air carriers have sent more and more of their maintenance work to outside shops, a new study by Consumer Reports has found.

Why should it matter? Loopholes in aviation rules means the Federal Aviation Administration, which inspects airplanes, usually has less control over shops that perform the outside work, compared to an airline's own facilities.
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2008/05/airline-safety.html


They claim the airlines are in line for government bailouts. No way. No how.

[OhioChick]

13. Nice...

:grr:

Thanks for the information.

[kikiek]

16. Thanks for the layoff info. It all ties together now. I am just pissed. Don't hear this on the news!

[OhioChick]

18. I found it on an Indian news source! n/t

[JeanGrey]

14. Well, yeah. The airlines are hurting. The baggage handlers

will probably go next since people don't want to or can't pay for baggage.

[kikiek]

17. They're outsourcing the mechanics jobs.

[JeanGrey]

23. Doesn't surprise me.

[Imagevision]

15. Great! - now we just have to wait for the plains falling out of the sky due to maintenance this is

only a matter of time.

[Bearware]

19. Adds a new meaning to Pearl Harbor Day

[jb5150]

20. what the hell

What are the passengers supposed to do, brings socket wrenches with them just in case.

[OhioChick]

21. ROFL....

Sorry, it's a sad situation but your comment had me laughing like hell.

Actually, if you see post #12 by "kikiek" these positions are being outsourced.

[excess_3]

22. welcome news

United is a horrible airline

[JCMach1]

24. This is really too bad... United Staff are some of the friendliest and most professional in

the business...

Too bad their company is selling them down the river. :(

[Lydia Leftcoast]

26. Glad I'm abandoning them after one flight in November

(booked way in advance)

I have a lot of miles on them, but fortunately I can use them on several foreign carriers, thanks to the Star Alliance.

But from now on, it's whoever provides the best flight experience for the price.

[CatholicEdHead]

27. Dec 7, 2008, Another Day Which will Live in Infamy