After five years of negotiations, United Airlines and the union representing the carrier’s 28,000 flight attendants have reached a tentative deal on a new contract.
“Industry-Leading” Tentative Deal Struck Between United Airlines And Flight Attendants
A tentative agreement between the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and United Airlines was stuck on Friday after years of negotiation stretching back to the pandemic. We don’t have the exact details of the new tentative agreement yet, but per the union, it includes:
- Industry-leading compensation
- Hotel, scheduling, reserve, and other quality of life improvements
- No PBS or reference to PBS
- In the first year alone, flight attendants will gain 40% of total economic improvements
- Industry-leading retro pay
PBS is short for Preferential Bidding System. PBS is a system in which you bid for things that you want or want to avoid (such as LAX layovers, single-day trips, redeyes, or certain aircraft types). An algorithm then takes those preferences and builds trips based on seniority. This is in use at American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
Instead, the older line bidding system will continue to be used, in which flight attendants bid for pre-constructed trips that are awarded based on seniority.
Until we have the precise details, it is too early to say whether the back pay, compensation going forward, and fringe benefits are industry-leading.
A source has told Live And Let’s Fly that the union caved into many of United’s demands in exchange for generous back pay, which was the main sticking point for ongoing negotiations.
The next step will be for union negotiators to present the deal to United’s Master Executive Council (local union leaders). This will occur next week, starting on May 29, 2025. Should the council vote to send the agreement to members, it will go to United’s 28,000 flight attendants, who will have three weeks to vote yay or nay on the new deal.
The text of the new tentative agreement will be posted here in the days ahead.
United has praised the deal, saying, “United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA announced an agreement that will provide industry-leading wages and many other improvements for United’s 28,000 flight attendants if ratified.”
Scott Kirby, United’s CEO, said:
“Our flight attendants are the best in the industry and have earned an industry-leading contract. I often say they are the face of our operation and the role they play every day – to keep people safe and deliver great service – helps make United the biggest and best airline in aviation history.”
Sounds like Kirby indeed…
Both the AFA and United have praised the National Mediation Board for its efforts to bring the two sides together.
CONCLUSION
United Airlines and the union representing flight attendants have announced a tentative deal that will award backpay, leading wages, and new workplace to flight attendants.
Only when the details of the contract become public, will we be able to dissect it and see just how “industry-leading” it is.
But this is good news…this is a step forward toward finally putting this issue to rest.
Now time to settle w the mechanics
Hopefully this will be over. Everyone is bored with it. In a Reuters photo of 9 picketing FAs at ORD, 5 are playing on their phones while barely holding up the demand signs.
They picket with the same level of commitment to service on a flight.
You would think when asking for money, one could act like they need it.
I would be shocked if this were over with the first offer especially if your source is correct that the union gave in to United’s many demands in exchange for better retro pay.
United FA’s already have some of the best work rules in the US aviation industry did they improve upon those work rules is something I’ll be looking at. We they get an Alaska Airlines type reserve system where they don’t have to be available 24 hours instead just 12 hours. Will they be paid flight pay for long sits at airports something Alaska FA’s were able to secure? And what quality of life and other scheduling improvements were made verse what the union agreed to give up in return for better retro.
Hey, if this happens it’s good to hear! I think it will help guarantee United’s long term survival (and help ensure they thrive). As my uncle likes to say, ‘Work ’em hard, and feed ’em well, and they’ll be back.’ I just hope it does not jack up ticket prices for the average Joe.
Every contract is characterized as ‘industry leading’. It’s always so amusing/trite when the CEO states the employees are the best & most valued in the industry. Yet, somehow it takes 5 years to produce an agreement. Usual corporate/capitalistic BS or one of those ‘mysteries of life’ ?
Of course it’s all BS. Marketing obfuscates everything.
The ramp employees got screwed with their last contract; no retro pay and no increase in their pension. Their union should be ashamed that they recommended a yes vote in that contract.
While I’m pleased that there’s an agreement that seems to be viable for the FA’s, Kirby destroyed any iota of credibility by saying that United is the best airline in the history of the world. Apparently he never flew Pan Am, TWA, Air France, British Airways in their prime, Cathay Pacific, EVA, any of the ME 3 airlines, etc etc. Going with ridiculous hyperbole just makes anything he says untrustworthy.
Anyone here actually believe that United is the best airline in history? Buhler? Buhler?