United and its five unions have yet to reach final agreement on the total amount of savings the unions ultimately will put to their members for votes, much less each group's precise contribution. The company earlier had asked for $9 billion over six years, and the unions responded with a five-year, $5 billion offer that they hoped would keep UAL out of bankruptcy. In the past two weeks, the two sides have been trying to bridge the gap.

In a statement, United said it plans to enter into bilateral negotiations with each of the unions, as it always expected. That process began Wednesday with the machinists union, the Chicago-based company said.

"We are encouraged by the shared sense of urgency and focus all members of the coalition are putting toward an out-of-court solution to our financial crisis," United said.

http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/inde...09-000864-2051

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The clock is ticking. They need a workable agreement and a new business plan ASAP, IMHO! I hope they get it quickly!

-Mark

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 10-12-2002).]