The union that represents pilots at United Airlines said on Saturday night that it had finally reached an agreement in principle with the Chicago-based carrier on a new four-year contract that would result in ‘industry leading’ pay and quality of life improvements.
The United Council of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) estimates that the agreement is worth more than $10 billion over the length of the proposed four-year contrast. That’s $2 billion more than CEO Scott Kirby estimated the contract could be worth last month.
“This agreement in principle could not have happened without the steadfast resolve of the 16,000 United pilots,” commented Captain Garth Thompson, chair of the United ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC), on Saturday evening.
“The tireless dedication demonstrated by United pilots over the past several years ensured our solidarity which was instrumental in achieving this historic agreement.”
The union and the airline have been locked in negotiations for the last five years, during which time Delta and Alaska Airlines managed to sign and ratify new pilot contracts.
A previous agreement in principle which was reached last June, fell flat when pilots “resoundingly rejected” the deal. That attempt at reaching a new contract led to an upheaval at the union and a change in leadership.
Before members get a chance to work on the latest deal, negotiators will now work to complete the final language over the coming weeks, and then the deal will go to the union’s leadership for review. If they are happy with what they see, the deal will then go to the entire pilot community for a vote.
