United Airlines’ profits soar, workers lose

On July 24, United Airlines’ parent company UAL posted $247 million in profits—its most profitable quarter in seven

years. The profits are more than double what the company earned in 2006. UAL was in bankruptcy from 2002 to 2006.

Bankruptcy allowed the company to squeeze workers’ wages and pension benefits. United terminated 120,000 pensions.

One flight attendant remarked, “My future is, I will be dying on the job.” Another flight attendant, who has worked for United for 30 years, saw her wages fall from $47,000 in 1994 to $43,000 last year—a cut made more painful by the rising cost of living.

Last year, United CEO Glenn F. Tilton got $40 million for seeing United through bankruptcy. In this system, the workers suffer; the capitalists profit.