Several last-minute deals between United Airlines and its unions seem to have put the union on the right track for getting out of bankruptcy. However, the airline has yet to reach an agreement on employee pensions, an issue that will be negotiated separately. United maintains that it needs to terminate and replace all its traditional pension plans, while union representatives are intent on saving their traditional pensions.
See "United on Track to Achieve Labor Savings", Mike Colias, Chicago Tribune, January 10, 2005