United Airlines flight attendants have ratified a new five-year labor contract that includes an average pay raise of 31% by August, marking a significant milestone as it is the last major U.S. airline with unionized flight crews to finalize a post-Covid agreement. This contract will provide approximately 30,000 flight attendants their first pay increase in nearly six years.
The deal, which received 82% approval from the flight attendants with nearly 90% participation in the vote, was initially proposed in March after a previous contract was rejected last year.
Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants, emphasized that the contract will significantly improve the lives of flight attendants, particularly benefiting new hires since the pandemic.
In addition to the substantial pay increase, the contract introduces boarding pay, which compensates flight attendants from the moment passengers begin boarding, rather than waiting until the boarding door is closed.
The agreement also includes a compensation increase of approximately 7% to 8%, $741 million in back pay, and various quality-of-life enhancements such as limits on red-eye flights and additional pay during significant disruptions