Ground employees, flight attendants, and mechanics working for United Airlines have all authorized their unions to strike if a contract settlement cannot be reached with the company. Experts remain skeptical about the legitimacy of the threat, noting that a strike may force the already bankrupt company into liquidation.
See "Strike Talk Grows at United Airlines", James F. Peltz, Ronald D. White and Debora Vrana, Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2005