United Airlines has reached a contract agreement with its workers’ union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), covering more than 28,000 employees. The five-year deal guarantees wage increases, improved benefits, and a more straightforward dispute resolution process. Additionally, the agreement will include “quality of life” improvements, such as better break rooms and new uniforms for customer service agents.
The contract agreement comes after years of negotiations between United Airlines and its workers’ union. IAM’s membership includes mechanics, baggage handlers, and other support staff at United Airlines as well as several other carriers. The new agreement will cover IAM members working for United Airlines in the U.S. and Guam, as well as United’s customer service agents who were previously not under an IAM contract.
The negotiations were long and sometimes difficult. Several IAM members staged protests at airports around the country, including at Newark Liberty International Airport in December 2019. The union had called for wage increases and improvements to safety and working conditions. United Airlines, on the other hand, had warned in a statement that “if we can’t reach an agreement, it could lead to disruptions for our customers.”
The contract agreement will also include a process for addressing worker grievances and disputes, which has been a sticking point in previous negotiations. According to the IAM, the agreement strengthens the “dispute-resolution process” for workers and simplifies the process for filing grievances.
“IAM members will see immediate improvements to their compensation, job security, and working conditions,” said Rich Delaney, the IAM’s directing business representative. “This contract agreement lays a strong foundation for IAM members at United to build upon as they continue to keep United flying during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit airlines hard, and United is no exception. The airline reported a $1.8 billion loss in the third quarter of 2020 and furloughed thousands of workers. However, the new contract agreement comes as United is starting to recall those workers, with the help of federal aid.
“This contract recognizes the incredible contributions of our IAM-represented employees and positions United for a bright future,” said Mike Klemm, senior vice president of human resources and labor relations at United Airlines. “By working together, we can focus on the recovery and continue to deliver for our employees and customers.”
United Airlines, which is headquartered in Chicago, is one of the world’s largest airlines. The company operates over 4,500 flights a day to 357 airports across five continents. As of 2020, United had over 91,000 employees worldwide.
In conclusion, United Airlines has ended years of negotiations with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) by signing a five-year contract agreement. The deal will cover more than 28,000 employees and guarantee wage increases, improved benefits, and a more straightforward dispute resolution process. The agreement will also include “quality of life” improvements for workers, such as better break rooms and new uniforms for customer service agents. The new contract agreement comes as United Airlines starts to recall its furloughed workers and positions itself for recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic.