United workers join for fight

Tension over pay issues is building at United Airlines, where five unions representing 30,000 employees on Tuesday called for the carrier to let rank-and-file workers share in the largesse enjoyed by senior executives.

Workers are still simmering over the restricted shares and options worth $38 million granted Chief Executive Glenn Tilton in the weeks after the airline exited bankruptcy last year. They were detailed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday.

The three worker groups who have traditionally been the most activist at the airline -- pilots, flight attendants and mechanics -- say they've formed a coalition with two smaller unions to push management to grant better pay, bonuses and work conditions. They also want the airline to open contract talks that aren't slated to begin until 2009. ...

So far, union officials won't say what tactics they plan to employ to pressure management to open talks. But they could have a strong legal case if they decide to take the matter to court, said Neil Bernstein, emeritus professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, who specializes in labor issues.

"Regardless of what the contract said, the Railway Labor Act allows for [contract] amendments at any time," said Bernstein. "The union has a strong argument that it has a right to propose changes at any time, the parties have to negotiate it and go through that process."

•	United workers join for fight Once at odds, unions riled by $38 million stock awards to CEO Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, March 28, 2007 Byline: Julie Johnsson, Tribune staff reporter