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We are working on three tracks to stop CEO Glenn Tilton from destroying our retirement security while he saves his own $4.5 million pension trust. If the courts and Congress refuse to ensure justice through our legal and legislative tracks, we will proceed with our most powerful track through CHAOS Strikes. We will only conduct legal CHAOS Strikes - but until that time should unfortunately come that the PBGC moves forward with termination of our pension plan and unilaterally changes our Contract, we must be prepared and Gear Up To Strike.

Flight Attendants Conduct CHAOS™ Drill at O'Hare

Drill shows CHAOS™ Strikes could shut down operations in 12 minutes

June 10, 2005

CHICAGO - This afternoon, we conducted a CHAOS drill in Chicago that proved to be a total success. The drill demonstrated how quickly we could initiate surprise strikes at O’Hare International Airport. Flight Attendant activists raced to departure gates in O'Hare's Terminal One after the go-ahead signal from our MEC CHAOS Co-Coordinators. The mock crew-notification strike drill concluded with reports via walkie-talkie from targeted gates throughout the airport. The drill demonstrated that we could shut down O’Hare in just over twelve minutes.

Following the announcement to the media of the drill results, 80 supporters donned CHAOS t-shirts and marched in front of the ticket counters, eventually chanting, “save our pension and replace this management,” clearly indicating that this is not a concern isolated to United Flight Attendants.

Crowds of management representatives came out of the woodwork. They were confused, crazed and, wiping the sweat from their brow. They ran around frantically without a clue of what to do and totally out of control with their actions. Our CHAOS activists were calm and in control by comparison, executing our plan with military precision. One activist noted, “maybe the stress and uncertainty they’re feeling now will give them a clue of what we are confronting with the potential loss of our pension.” It was then that a police paddy wagon pulled up with sirens blaring. Management had demanded that the demonstrators be arrested for what the police soon learned was a simple exercise of first amendment rights. There were no arrests. Before management could regroup, the event was over and the crowd had dispersed.

At the same time the sirens were blaring outside, inside the airport a passenger in the security line was overheard saying, “Can you believe it – the company’s trying to take their pensions and all they’re doing is trying to fight to save them – and the company calls the police!” Others heard passengers downstairs in baggage claim repeating the chant, “Save our Pensions” in a continuous hum.

We’ll say it again – we don’t want to strike, but we will to save our pensions, replace this management and save our airline. Preparations for CHAOS will provide us with the power to do just that. Add your name to the CHAOS support list and look for a CHAOS drill coming to your airport soon.