He also chastised a member of United’s board, a union leader with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, for not attending two board meetings and for filing two lawsuits against top United officials.
Tilton is named in both suits, which accuse the executives of neglecting their fiduciary duties to employees and creditors by stopping contributions to the airline’s pension plans, which are underfunded by at least $7.5 billion. The airline has not said what it plans to do with the pension plans, but many workers fear management wants to eliminate them.
“We will not be distracted,” Tilton said in a recorded telephone message to employees. “We will not allow our hard work over the past two years to be undermined.”
United has been in bankruptcy for nearly 20 months.
The government’s rejection in June of United’s bid for a $1.1 billion loan guarantee means the company must cut costs further to attract financing from the capital markets.
Tilton said repeatedly in his message that United’s employees, directors and others have worked closely in bringing the airline this far, and that he looks forward to seeing all of United’s directors return to the board room.
The machinists union declined to comment on Tilton’s message, but a spokesman said the two lawsuits are “going forward, and we’ll continue exploring additional legal options to make sure our members and their pensions are protected.”
United on Tuesday also acknowledged that its pension and retiree medical costs have decreased dramatically since January, but the carrier said that will not keep it from deferring required pension payments.
The cost of United’s pensions fell 45 percent in the first half of the year, to $250 million from $455 million in the first half of last year, according to a quarterly filing Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The cost of United’s retiree medical programs fell nearly 50 percent, to $114 million from $227 million.
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“Pension costs declined because we had lower employee pay and lower pension formulas for pilots and flight attendants,” United spokeswoman Jean Medina said.
The lower costs don’t change United’s financial situation, she said.