The election of a new president of United Airline's pilots union has brought hope for more amicable dealing in the future. Capt. Wendy Morse, the new president, said that she will fight just as hard for higher wages and an end to outsourcing as previous presidents, but that those fights will hopefully take place through negotiations. The contract negotiations taking place this year will be the first since United's bankruptcy, during which pilots lost wages and their pensions. United is negotiating simultaneously with all of its unions. On Thursday, 1,800 flight attendants picketed at airports in hopes of speeding up the talks. United officials say that they also hope that the contract negotiations will move quickly and be settled amicably.
See "Leader of pilots union at United Airlines flies new approach in contract talks", Julie Johnsson, Chicago Tribune, January 7, 2010