United Airlines flight attendants have ratified a new five-year labor contract, a significant development that will bring substantial pay increases and other improvements to its cabin crew.
The agreement, approved by a large majority of the unionized flight attendants, includes average raises of 31% to base pay, effective by August. This marks the first pay raise for United's approximately 30,000 flight attendants in nearly six years.
The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) reported that the contract received 82% approval, with close to 90% of eligible members participating in the vote. This outcome follows the rejection of a previous contract proposal by the flight attendants last year.
"The contract will immediately change the lives of United Flight Attendants, especially our thousands of new hires who have been hired since the pandemic," stated Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of the AFA.
Beyond base pay increases, the new contract introduces several key improvements. Notably, it includes compensation for "boarding pay," meaning flight attendants will now be paid for the time the aircraft door is open and passengers are boarding. Previously, pay often did not commence until the boarding door was closed.
The agreement also provides for an immediate increase in compensation of approximately 7% to 8%, along with $741 million in retroactive pay. This addresses the long period without pay adjustments.
Further enhancements in the contract focus on quality of life for the flight attendants. These include new restrictions on red-eye flights, aiming to improve rest periods for crews.
Additionally, the contract introduces "sit pay" for disruptions lasting longer than 2.5 hours. This provision ensures flight attendants receive compensation even when flights are delayed or canceled and they are required to remain on standby at the airport.
This ratification positions United Airlines as the last of the major carriers with unionized flight crews to finalize a labor agreement in the post-Covid era, bringing its cabin crew compensation and working conditions in line with industry advancements.
