United Airlines win union ruling

The airline said the industrial action had cost it millions of dollars

United Airlines has won a preliminary injunction against a pilots' trade union stopping it taking industrial action against the airline.

A US court has ruled that a summer campaign of work-to-rule and reporting sick by some United pilots was illegal.

The airline said the action had led to the cancellation of 329 flights and cost it $8m (£5.3m).

The Air Line Pilots Association, ALPA, denied encouraging the actions, which are barred under airlines' labour laws.

Fatigue calls

United said that some pilots had been taking work-to-rule actions, such as refusing to take-off in planes with minor mechanical issues that did not require immediate attention under federal rules.

The pilots' union has been in dispute with the airline over what it says is the carrier's refusal to reverse concessions the pilots gave in 2003 during its bankruptcy reorganisation, including 40% pay cuts.

The airline said that during the summer, pilots calling in saying they were fatigued more than doubled, from one call a day to more than two-and-half a day.

The United Airlines branch of ALPA issued a statement saying it had "already advised the United pilots that it remains essential not to engage in any form of economic action involving United Airlines".