CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) has reached a groundbreaking tentative labor agreement with the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), covering 28,000 flight attendants, potentially delivering pay raises of up to 40%. The agreement was finalized near the airline’s headquarters in Chicago (ORD) after years of challenging negotiations.
Although full contract details remain under review, union leaders highlight “industry-leading” pay terms and retroactive compensation. The agreement now awaits internal union discussions scheduled for May 29–30, after which it may proceed to a full member vote.
Photo: United AirlinesUnited Flight Attendants Pay Hike
The new tentative deal between United Airlines and AFA-CWA marks a major win for flight attendants, who have not received a pay raise since their contract became amendable in 2021.
The agreement includes a substantial 40% wage increase, which the union says is unprecedented in the industry. This development follows a period of stalled discussions, with the AFA accusing United of delaying negotiations to control payroll expenses.
In recent weeks, negotiations intensified in Chicago (ORD), where union and company representatives worked to finalize the deal. AFA National President Sara Nelson was reportedly present to ensure closure, reflecting the importance of this milestone agreement.
The proposed contract also includes retroactive pay—compensating flight attendants for the years they worked without a raise. This addition is especially significant, as United had previously resisted retroactive provisions, unlike American Airlines (AA) and Southwest Airlines (WN), which included such terms in their agreements.
The next phase involves a detailed review of the contract by union leaders from across United’s network. The document spans hundreds of pages, and a decision on whether to put it to a vote will follow internal deliberations on May 29–30.
The AFA has cautioned members not to reject the deal outright simply because it is the first presented. Union leadership maintains it would not forward the agreement unless it reflected the best possible outcome under current conditions.
Photo: United AirlinesUnresolved Issues
While the wage increases and retro pay are confirmed highlights, some key aspects remain unclear. One major point of contention during talks was compensation for ground duty and boarding time.
AFA has long argued that flight attendants should be paid for all time spent on duty—not just from pushback to arrival.
United Airlines, however, has historically maintained the industry standard, compensating crew only during active flight time. Whether the tentative agreement alters this remains to be seen and could be a decisive issue when members consider ratification.
Photo: UnitedPolitical and Industry Pressures
The timing of the agreement comes amid a shifting political and labor environment. United faced mounting pressure to finalize a deal as peer airlines secured improved terms for their flight crews.
Failure to match these benchmarks could have placed the airline at a competitive disadvantage in terms of talent retention and labor relations.
Despite resisting several union demands, United ultimately conceded on significant pay-related terms, underscoring the influence of organized labor and rising workforce expectations in the post-pandemic aviation sector.
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The post United 28,000 Attendants Gets 40% Pay Hike with New Agreement appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
