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Teamsters Continue Negotiations With United

The union seeks to amend its contract for over 10,000 aircraft maintenance technicians.

United mechanics

United maintenance staff (Photo: United Airlines)

Aircraft maintenance technicians represented by the Teamsters Union are continuing contract negotiations with United this week.

The Teamsters posted on X Wednesday that the union is negotiating on behalf of over 10,000 technicians for higher wages, lower health care costs, and faster wage growth for new technicians.

“United Airlines Teamsters are directly responsible for the carrier’s record-breaking profits,” the post stated. “It’s time for United to agree to the contract United Airlines Teamsters have earned!”

In August, United’s Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) rallied across the country demanding improved wages before reaching a tentative agreement on a single contract article. Three months later, AMTs held another nationwide rally as November’s tentative agreement with United drew closer to its Dec. 5 amendable date.

“United Airlines has tried every trick in the book to delay negotiations and force Teamsters to keep working under the current contract for as long as possible,” said Teamsters President Sean O’Brien in a November news release from the union. “We are done with United taking Teamsters for granted while raking in billions in profits every quarter. It’s time for the company to treat technicians with respect by agreeing to the historic contract United Airlines Teamsters have earned.”

Clacy Griswold, chairman of the United Airlines Teamsters National Negotiating Committee, told AirlineGeeks in an emailed statement that the Teamsters ended 2024 by securing all but two non-economic articles of their contract with United.

“We successfully secured an increase on tool insurance, additional protections from unjust disciplinary actions, improved recall rights in the event of furloughs, and an increase for minimum staffing levels on field trips,” Griswold said.

While contracts don’t expire under the Railway Labor Act, they become amendable after a given date. The current collective bargaining agreement will remain in effect until the Teamsters secure a new tentative agreement for the entire contract.

Griswold said the Teamsters are currently negotiating “economics.”

“We’re using every resource we have to reach an agreement as soon as possible,” he said. “The economics portion of the contract, which includes fighting to win historic wage increases, substantially lower health care costs, and a faster wage progression for new technicians [is being negotiated]. United Airlines Teamsters are directly responsible for the carrier’s record-breaking profits, and it’s time for United to agree to the contract United Airlines Teamsters have earned.”

AirlineGeeks.com Staff
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  • Caleb Revill is a journalist, writer and lifelong learner working as a Junior Writer for Firecrown. When he isn't tackling breaking news, Caleb is on the lookout for fascinating feature stories. Every person has a story to tell, and Caleb wants to help share them! He can be contacted by email anytime at [email protected].

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