United Airlines accused of broad anti-union campaign

The huge installations United Airlines uses to prepare and cook in-flight food recently got a new addition: some television screens. But rather than just providing news or talk show chatter, they broadcast messages explaining why workers shouldn’t unionise. Employees at all 5 of United Continental Holdings’ kitchens in the US said the screens, installed this year, broadcast a company line urging opposition to hospitality union Unite Here—which is seeking to organise its workers—or touting United’s achievements. Now, the union is fighting United’s use of TVs and its allegedly broader campaign against the union—the latest move in an escalating war between them. In a complaint filed Thursday with the National Mediation Board, Unite Here alleged that United has illegally prevented employees from engaging in pro-union activity. <br/>