AIRLINES

United Faces Labor Strife After Buyout Talks Fail: Unions representing United Airlines workers are threatening to disrupt the nation’s second-largest carrier after the collapse of negotiations with UAL Corp., the airline’s parent, for an employee buyout. UAL now is expected to sell off assets, contract more work outside the company and create smaller, lower-cost airlines within United to operate short-haul flights. “We will have to put into action our plans to counter and fight these plans,” machinists union spokesman Michael Peete said Sunday in a recorded message to union members. The Air Line Pilots Assn. said its leaders would gather this week to review the events. The employee buyout talks collapsed Friday, when United sold 15 of its 17 flight kitchens to Dobbs International Services, a move opposed by union leaders.