a woman giving a bottle to another woman

Negotiations must begin somewhere, but it seems that management and labor are growing further apart at United Airlines when it comes to a new contract for flight attendants.

As Negotiations Continue, Flight Attendants At United Airlines Outline Wage Demands

United Airlines is the last major US carrier to agree on a new post-pandemic contract with its flight attendants. The two remain in constant conversation, with the National Mediation Board (NMB) now involved. 99% of flight attendants have voted to authorize a strike, but any potential strike would be many weeks away (permitted, per federal law, only 30 days after the NMB has determined the two sides have reached an “impasse”).

We hear two very different sides of how such talks are progressing. From management contacts, I hear that most issues have been ironed out and while there is a difference in numbers, an agreement is within reach. But from flight attendants, I hear a very different story. I’m told that the two sides are very far apart on compensation as well as other benefits like leave time, healthcare, 401(K) contributions, and scheduling flexibility.

JonNYC shares an internal document from the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) union representing flight attendants that outlines its current demands. Those include:

  • 28% immediate pay raise
  • 4% annual raise until a new contract is signed

This offer was presented earlier this week (September 23, 2024) in San Antonio, Texas at the 12th mediation session.

Practically, this represents a slightly more generous deal (3–4%) than flight attendants at American Airlines recently secured. But as View From The Wing points out, what makes it potentially much more lucrative is that United is expected to report a higher profit than American Airlines, meaning flight attendants will make more even if the contract–including the profit sharing formula–is identical to AA’s.

But United will never agree to an indefinite 4% annual raise…it’s simply a non-starter.

Bottom Line – A Deal Is Coming

From my vantage point, the union is unsurprisingly seeking a more lucrative deal than American Airlines or Delta Air Lines…it would be derelict not to. And it will probably get it too…although maybe 1-2% more rather than 2-3% more. The result for consumers will be higher airfares and perhaps even onboard cutbacks to pay for this new deal–the money has to come from somewhere.

But we live in this twilight zone where even though United would have no trouble replacing all of its flight attendants for folks willing to work for less than today’s stalled wages, that simply is not going to happen…and a big pay raise is coming. Thus, I’m hopeful that both sides will cut the drama and simply get the deal done so that consumers do not start receiving poor service in indignation over the lack of a new contract (which, to the great credit of United flight attendants, I have not seen…yet).


image: United Airlines

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