[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16934-16935]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   IN RECOGNITION OF GERALD GREENWALD, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE 
     OFFICER OF UNITED AIRLINES, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BUD SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 1999

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the members of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I rise to extend 
congratulations to Jerry Greenwald on the occasion of his retirement as 
Chairman of United Airlines. He joined United Airlines five years ago. 
From his takeoff in July 1994 to his landing last week, Jerry 
Greenwald's has truly been an amazing flight.
  Brand new to the aviation industry, Jerry Greenwald led the 
transition of United Airlines into the largest employee-owned 
organization in the world. He assumed the helm of a struggling company 
which was part of an industry burdened by years of mounting financial 
losses. In an environment when regulations often seemed to make success 
impossible, he guided the employee-owners of United Airlines to turn 
the company around. Jerry Greenwald showed that teamwork could be a way 
of life and not just a slogan. He demonstrated that ``labor-management 
relations'' did not have to be a euphemism for mortal combat, but 
rather a unique means to achieve a range of goals.
  By focusing on core business objectives and core customer needs, 
United Airlines achieved record revenues for four consecutive years, 
and measurable improvements to delivering on customer preferences for 
air travel. Jerry Greenwald is investing proceeds into new equipment, 
technology and customer service initiatives to prepare for the future. 
During his tenure, Jerry Greenwald has grown United to the equivalent 
of a whole new airline. And, I'd like to think he's changing how the 
industry thinks about customer service. The US airline industry is 
still evolving, but it is clear that Mr. Greenwald has put United on a 
course to continue to improve and be competitive.
  Beyond his focus to make United healthy again, Mr. Greenwald took on 
an enormous task when he agreed to serve as Chairman of

[[Page 16935]]

the National Welfare to Work partnership. United alone has hired nearly 
2,000 people from the welfare rolls to work in productive jobs, and he 
inspired thousands of other companies to do the same. Mr. Greenwald has 
expanded the United Foundation to support more than 300 charitable 
organizations and programs around the world, focusing on education, 
health and community partnerships. And he has personally been involved 
in these initiatives rather than just leading them; that is an 
important distinction in today's world.
  Throughout his time with United, Mr. Greenwald has been a 
consistently accessible and responsive partner to those of us in 
Congress concerned with aviation issues. We have worked together with 
Mr. Greenwald to tackle complicated issues that affect the interests of 
the entire nation: airline competitiveness, access for US carriers to 
global aviation markets, air traffic control reform, taxes, and yes, 
even customer service. Although we have not always agreed, we have 
always communicated.
  So as Jerry Greenwald pulls ``wheels up'' and flies off to a fresh 
attempt at retirement, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him 
well.

                          ____________________