United Airlines Pilots Union Authorizes Strike Vote: What This Could Mean For The Airline And Passengers

The United Airlines Holdings Inc. pilots union has unanimously authorized a strike vote, according to a recent report by Reuters. This move by the union comes in the wake of months of negotiations over pilots’ contracts, with the pilots seeking better pay and benefits.

If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com.

If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.

United Airlines Pilots Union’s Decision

The union chair communicated this decision to the pilots via a letter, stating that more details about the impending strike vote would be provided in the coming days. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has not yet set a date for the strike vote. This action follows the recent ratification of a contract by Delta Air Lines pilots, which included over $7 billion in cumulative increases in pay and benefits over four years. Delta’s new contract has set a benchmark for contract negotiations in the aviation industry.

United Airlines’ contract with its pilots came up for renewal in 2019 and negotiations have been ongoing for the past five years. Last year, pilots overwhelmingly rejected a tentative contract, stating it fell short of their expectations. Since then, United pilots have been protesting for a better deal.

The Likelihood of a Strike

While the strike vote has been authorized, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a strike will occur. A strike authorization vote is often a bargaining tactic used by unions during contract negotiations. Therefore, even though a strike mandate has been approved, it does not mean pilots will walk off the job immediately.

The process leading up to a strike involves several stages. First, the ongoing negotiations between the union and the airline’s management would have to break down. Then, the National Mediation Board would likely step in to help get the negotiations back on track. If those discussions also prove fruitless, the two parties could either enter into arbitration or return to the status quo for a 30-day cooling-off period. After this period, the President could create a Presidential Emergency Board to prevent a strike. Only if these measures fail could the pilots stop flying.

Potential Impact of a Strike on United Airlines and Passengers

Although the occurrence of a strike is uncertain, it’s important to consider the potential impact if a strike were to happen. A recent example of a pilot strike at the Scandinavian carrier SAS can provide some insight into the possible consequences.

The SAS pilot strike led to the cancellation of thousands of flights, impacting hundreds of thousands of passengers, and costing the airline between $94 million and $123 million. In the face of an ongoing strike, the airline’s cash reserves were rapidly depleting.

SAS was also in the midst of restructuring and seeking debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing. However, the ongoing strike jeopardized these efforts and threatened the company’s ability to raise capital. If the strike were to continue, SAS might be forced to sell valuable assets and drastically cut its network, making it difficult for the airline to maintain the size and breadth of its services.

If a similar situation were to occur with United Airlines, it could result in significant financial losses and disruptions for passengers. However, it’s important to note that the situations of SAS and United Airlines are not identical, and the specific outcomes would depend on many factors.

Southwest’s Winter Collapse Spells How Much Trouble This Could Cause

When Southwest collapsed in the winter holiday period of 2022. One of the issues, this site covered at the time was not only the effect on the airline, but on the broader market as it absorbed re-bookings at the last moment.) Fares were through the roof, passengers snatched up any available space on competing carriers, and many couldn’t find anything for days due to a limited elasticity in the US air market and the size of Southwest’s failure.

Should United pilots take labor action in a substantial and co-ordinated manner, the damage will be spread to consumers and the carrier alike. It will be US passengers that bear the brunt of pilot strikes in the short term as those who must travel and are booked on United will have to find replacement transportation on short notice with a market that doesn’t have room for more travelers.

Depending on how long a strike might last, this could make for a world of pain all summer across the industry with United losing big, and other carriers equipped to pick up any shortfall reaping the rewards.

Next Steps

In the meantime, United Airlines stated that it has offered its pilots an industry-leading deal and is actively working with ALPA to reach an agreement. The airline assured that flights would continue to operate as planned during the negotiation process.

As the situation unfolds, it will be crucial for both parties to find a resolution that is acceptable to all stakeholders. If the negotiations reach an impasse, it could potentially lead to a strike, as we’ve seen with SAS. However, this outcome is still uncertain and will depend on the ongoing negotiations’ progress and the involved parties’ decisions.

It’s important for passengers to stay informed about the situation and make alternative plans if necessary. While the pilots have authorized a strike vote, this does not mean a strike is imminent. Nonetheless, it is a significant step in the negotiations and could potentially impact United Airlines and its passengers if a resolution is not found soon.

What do you think? Will pilots ultimately vote in favor of labor action? What would happen to travelers if they do? 

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

SUBSCRIBE!

You have Successfully Subscribed!