About one week earlier some 68 percent of the workers voted to reject a contract proposal recommended by a White House-appointed federal panel.

One of the provisions in the rejected pact included accepting a pay cut if United bosses could squeeze other employees to make such a concession as part of a "financial recovery plan." That deal also proposed that wage increases retroactive to July 2000 be deferred and paid in eight quarterly installments starting in April 2003.

The airline workers took deep wage cuts in 1994, and over the following years United Airlines bosses made record profits. Wages were restored to 1994 levels in July 2000 when the contract came up for renewal.

Over the past two years the company had stalled negotiations with the IAM, then jumped in line to declare financial disaster when two of its planes crashed on September 11. The bosses have threatened bankruptcy ever since.

United also is involved in a contract impasse with 30,000 baggage handlers and customer service workers who are represented by the IAM.

Kathleen Denny contributed to this article.  
 
 
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