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As a May 11th bankruptcy hearing for United Airlines looms, two unions representing United workers are trying to work with the airline to save worker pensions while keeping the company afloat. Workers are fed up with wage cuts and threats to destroy their defined benefit pension system. They're ready to strike if necessary. Joe Tiberi of the International Association of Machinists.

[Joe Tiberi 1]: "They've had enough. They're outraged with an employer that
provides bonuses to its officers while closing reservation centers and trying to attack pensions. And they're not going to stand for it any longer. There are other options that can meet the needs of the carrier as well as the pension promises they made to our members."

Tiberi says talks are ongoing with United but before a comprehensive agreement can be reached the pension question has to be resolved. O.V. Delle-Femine (Della-FEM-in-ee) , National Director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, says his union representing 6,500 mechanics will deliver a proposal to United next week that achieves the $96 million in savings it wants while saving the union contract from further drastic cuts. But his members have authorized a strike and they're in a fight-back mood.

[O.V. Delle-Femine] : "They're thoroughly disgusted. And quite frankly at this time I'm hoping to keep them from getting excited and doing a strike."