June 8, 2011 - As shareholders of United Airlines gather today for the annual United Airlines shareholders meeting, it is incumbent upon United CEO Jeff Smisek and his management team to thoroughly explain the facts regarding the progress of the United/Continental merger. Much work remains to be completed before they can proclaim the merger a success, according to the pilots of United and Continental Airlines.

“’On schedule’ are two words Mr. Smisek should avoid in addressing the shareholders regarding this merger,” said Capt. Wendy Morse, chairman of the United Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association. “There is no bigger task in front of United management than reaching agreement with the pilots on a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement and this task is nowhere near on schedule. Until an agreement is reached, this merger cannot be considered anything close to a success.”