Captain Neil Swindells was elected to head the United Airlines pilot union in a controversial and close vote, where members of the group’s Master Executive Council tried to shut down discussion of his homophobic, misogynistic, and anti-Semitic online commentary.
Reports I’ve heard is that he’s quite difficult to work with in the cockpit as well. But he represented a faction of pilots that managed to garner a majority of vote one among eligible union leadership. I wrote, though, that he was unable to represent all of his pilot members equally. And this wasn’t just an internal pilot issue – the head of the pilot union gets a board seat at United Airlines. He was clearly unable to represent shareholders, either.
On Tuesday I wrote that he must resign immediately.
Captain Swindells must resign his position immediately, because he cannot effectively represent his membership. He clearly doesn’t have the best interests of some of them in mind. He fails to hold his tongue, making him an ineffective leader. And he needlessly antagonizes leadership of the airline which will make him ineffective both at the bargaining table and in the board room.
As first reported by aviation watchdog JonNYC he did so on Wednesday. Here is his resignation letter:
How is it unconfirmed when the UAL MEC sent out his resignation letter? pic.twitter.com/4xWrOsiHis
— Matt Doughkampoh (@phx2dca) December 22, 2022
Captain Swindells returns to flying the line, where he’ll merely antagonize other pilots, rather than representing all of them and joining the board of United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
An internal matter involving the UAL pilots union that has been handled by the UAL pilots union. Nothing to see here. And I say that as a gay, brown man.
The rank and file United pilots are the losers in all of this.
Not only do they have to ask how this guy wasn’t better vetted by their MEC but now expect to wait until the 2nd half and perhaps end of 2023 before seeing a new contract.
Since this contract will set the benchmark for other labor groups at United and Delta’s CEO said that DL expects to announce a pay raise for DL’s non-union employees early in the new year, the frustration among United’s employees will be palpable throughout 2023.
United’s plans to be the first to have an industry leading pilot contract have gone up in smoke which raises serious questions about UA’s ability to pull off their massive expansion.
Good thing that Scott Kirby has managed to snatch even more regional carrier aircraft seats away from American via Mesa so the outsourcing of domestic flying at United will remain the highest percentage in the US airline industry.
Swindells was outed but he in fact is a representation of the many pilots. He didn’t arrive on his own, he had encouragement and support from many enablers.… sexist, bigot, racist…the cancer will only hide better from now on.
You know that old joke, “Your money or your life”?
( Jack Benny show 1950’s, cited here: https://affordanything.com/your-money-or-your-life/ )
Caroline Ellison vs. Neil Swindells –> Discuss.
I saw nothing racist from what he posted.
Oh no, that guy challenged the almighty JonNYC. Here’s to him getting threats via DM and being blocked!
Good riddance! I knew him when I worked for United some years ago. Everything reported about him now is EXACTLY how he was then. A complete dick. UA pilots deserve better representation than that.
@Gary I believe I predicted this and told you to move along, internal matter that would work itself out (along with the majority of your commenters in the know and directly connected to the matter)…..yet you seemed outraged that everyone wasn’t more outraged along with you. Respectfully get back to your roots and publish worthy travel/points stories as this was once my favorite travel site before you started going on tangents.
@ Gary Leff
“…where he’ll merely antagonize other pilots…”
C’mon, mate, just how low are you going to stoop on this issue?! This has now become a free-for-all character assignation, which becomes a very very ugly case of internet bullying of an individual.
Note that said individual is not a holder of pubic office and thereby subject t to scrutiny as such, has apposition that is not directly relevant to the majority of your readership, is involve din an issue not directly involved in the majority of your readership, and apparently has not been offered a right of reply by the likes of Gary Leff, Ben Schlappig, and Matthew Klint (the latter publishing non publicly available posts) in their incident for judgment and hatred on limited information taken entirely out of context.
If the guy is not suitable to hold executive office in the union, that is a matter for the union through their selective processes, and not the internet hounds baying for blood with virtually no background or information to base their opinion – yep, the uncritical mob you stirred up a treat.
If the guy is not competent to fly an aircraft after (was it 27 years of experience?) then that is a matter for his employer to resolve per their standard procedures to check competency.
If the guy has transcended professional standards as a pilot then that is a matter for the employer to adjudicate against their prevailing code of conduct and HR processes.
If the guy has transcended professional standards as union a member then that is a matter for the union to resolve.
Where does this go, Gary?
Shame on you…I think this is your most unethical and sad effort as. travel blogger.
The sad irony being your incite the sort of commentary ascribed to this guy as your core modus.
@ Chad
“I saw nothing racist from what he posted.”
Perhaps (remarkably!!!) I agree with you on this occasion. The comments about “wops” and “jews” or whatever, were in the context of supporting greater diversity in the union.
Now have a great festive season, buddy, I’m off to have drinks with my local best buddy (who’s “Jewish”) at a beach bar / restaurant that’s owned and run by my Italian mates (who are “wops”) to joke about holes in sheets and the absence of certain nations in the recent World Cup soccer, whilst they sledge me back with equally drole humour.
Be well and travel safe, everyone.
@ Sosongblue
“…..yet you seemed outraged that everyone wasn’t more outraged along with you. Respectfully get back to your roots and publish worthy travel/points stories as this was once my favorite travel site before you started going on tangents.”
+1….;)
Internet outrage should not determine the outcome of executive selections in any independent organisation where due process is followed.
@ Jay says:
“Good riddance! I knew him when I worked for United some years ago.”
So, either the HR processes at the airline are derelict or your summation is very personal?!
Please do elaborate with evidence…and let us know whether you support trial, judge and execution by Internet – maybe we should audit all of your own personal past to see what we can dredge up to smear your professional reputation and character and competency?!