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United Air and pilots in standstill pact: report

CHICAGO
Sat Aug 2, 2008 3:48pm EDT
Ground crew unhook a plane from the tow at O'Hare International airport in Chicago, June 4, 2008. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

CHICAGO (Reuters) - United Airlines has come to a standstill agreement with its pilots' union until a federal court can rule on the company's request for an injunction barring labor actions that disrupt flight schedules, the Chicago Tribune reported on Saturday.

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The newspaper reported that United, a unit of UAL Corp, confirmed the agreement on Friday but said neither the airline nor the union would disclose details.

On Wednesday, UAL accused its pilots' union and a "small group" of its members in a federal lawsuit of misusing sick leave and taking other steps the company said led to hundreds of canceled flights this month.

United sought a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court in Chicago to halt what it said in a statement were "organized and unlawful job actions" that partly include a "public campaign of intimidation."

The Tribune reported that hearings on the suit are scheduled for August 27-28, and that a U.S. District Court judge asked both parties on Thursday to come to at least a temporary agreement to avoid flight disruptions.

(Reporting by Jim Marshall, editing by Chris Wilson)



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