United face driver criticism over Wrexham AFC sponsorship

[ad_1]

After it was revealed that United Airlines would be the new shirt sponsor of British soccer team Wrexham AFC, the airline’s pilots appeared to hit out at their employers with a public statement.

Wrexham AFC owners Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny announced the new sponsorship deal earlier this week in a video posted online. Now cult in the United States, the football team will wear the United Airlines logo on the front of its jersey from next season.

The team will also fly with United for their summer in the United States. At the same time, members of the Uniteds MileagePlus Exclusives program will receive additional benefits, such as special access to Wrexhams games in Wales and the United States.

Photo: Courtesy of Wrexham AFC

We are looking for sponsors who match the spirit of Wrexham Association Football Club and the people of Wrexham, the cast said. The team, the city and the fans around the world are united like never before and United Airlines is committed to elevating our story and our journey.

Josh Earnest, Director of Communications at United Airlines, said: The passion and persistence of this growing team has captured the imagination of people in the United States and around the world. We were thrilled to partner with the team and their co-presidents on social media and on their hit TV show as the incredible story of this team and their loyal fans continues to unfold.

However, pilots from the United States were less optimistic about the sponsorship deal, taking to Twitter to complain about the airline.

You have a captain, United Airlines Pilots said on Twitter. Your club has been promoted. But his #UnitedPilots are declining captain upgrades that prevent @united from achieving his goals!

Photo: Courtesy of Blake Guidry/Unsplash

The statement comes amid ongoing negotiations between the union representing the pilots and the airline, with US pilots demanding better working conditions, operating hours and pension benefits, among other issues.

Carrier pilots hit the picket lines in April, with Captain Garth Thompson, president of the United ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC), saying at the time: Our contract is so outdated that hundreds of certain positions [which] has always been the envy of the airline industry, are not being met because pilots prioritize transparency of schedules and family time more than anything else.

A following statement was made by Thompson in early June, saying that the United States Board must now choose between ignoring the sacrifices and contributions made by our pilot group, or adding[ing] our UPA to the long list of other investments linked to the United Next strategy.

[ad_2]