In a significant development for airline industry labor relations, United Airlines flight attendants have ratified a new five-year labor contract that promises substantial benefits. The agreement includes an average pay increase of 31% and marks the first pay raise for the carrier’s approximately 30,000 flight attendants in nearly six years. This decision makes United the final major airline to secure a post-Covid labor agreement with its unionized flight crews.
The contract was initially outlined in a preliminary deal reached in March, following a previous proposal that was rejected by flight attendants last year. Ultimately, the new agreement received overwhelming support, with 82% of voting flight attendants approving the contract—a participation rate nearing 90%.
Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants, expressed optimism about the new contract’s impact. “The contract will immediately change the lives of United Flight Attendants, especially our thousands of new hires who have been hired since the pandemic,” he stated, highlighting the significance of the agreement for both current and newly hired staff.
Among the key features of the contract are provisions for boarding pay, which compensates flight attendants for the time when passengers are boarding the aircraft, a practice that many airlines had previously neglected by only starting the pay clock once the boarding process was completed. Additionally, the contract includes a salary increase ranging from 7% to 8% and a substantial $741 million allocated for back pay.
Quality-of-life enhancements are also part of the deal, such as restrictions on red-eye flights and provisions for “sit pay” during operational disruptions lasting over 2.5 hours. These improvements are expected to contribute positively to the overall working conditions for United’s flight attendants, aiming for a more balanced workplace in an industry that has faced substantial upheaval in recent years.
