Five unions representing a total 78,000 workers at United Airlines announced they’ll more closely coordinate during bargaining from now on.
The United Airlines Union Coalition, announced Dec. 7, includes the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 141, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), Professional Airline Flight Control Association (PAFCA), and International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Airline Division. Together, the workers represented by these unions make up 85% of United Airlines’ workforce.
Four of the five unions are currently in contract negotiations with United, and they plan to use that opportunity to their combined advantage.
“None of us can do our jobs without each other,” leaders of the unions said in a joint statement. “We have each other’s backs in bargaining and we will stand together until all of us have ratified contracts that reflect the world-class airline United should be.”
United Airlines is the fourth largest airline in the U.S. by market share, a calculation that’s made using revenue passenger miles.
In other airline news, pilots at Delta Airlines have a tentative agreement with management after authorizing a strike in October. The agreement provides a 34% pay increase over three years, according to Reuters, including an immediate 18% raise when the contract is ratified. If approved, Reuters reported the contract will serve as a benchmark for union negotiations at United Airlines and American Airlines.
