United Airlines will attempt to renegotiate elements of a new tentative contract with its pilots union after it became clear that frontline flight crew were not happy with the agreement and were preparing to reject the proposal.
The airline reached a tentative agreement with the United branch of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) in late June but it quickly became clear that a significant proportion of United’s 14,000-strong pilot workforce wasn’t happy with elements of the proposed deal.
It was previously reported that United’s pilot master council had suspended outreach efforts with its members that were designed to convince pilots to accept the deal after the level of disappointment with the proposal became clear.
Key elements of the tentative agreement included a 14.5 percent pay increase within the next 18 months, as well as enhanced overtime compensation and premium pay.
The union claimed that when combined with “quality of life improvements” and other enhancements including disability benefits and scheduling improvements, the proposal was “raising the bar” and “leading the industry forward”.
But Captain Mike Hamilton, chair of the United Master Executive Council has now confirmed that “Management has agreed to reengage in discussions to remove objectionable items and work with us to reach a new, improved agreement,” CNBC reported.
Returning to negotiations will be a blow to the industry because United was the first carrier to reach a tentative agreement with its pilots following the pandemic and it came at a time when industrial relation disputes throughout the sector are starting to heat up.
Pilots at Alaska and Delta Air Lines have been involved in picketing events as part of protracted contract negotiations but American Airlines might be nearing the conclusion of talks with its pilot union.
Renewed negotiations between United and its pilots workgroup could take up to three months, it has been reported.
