The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) has stated that United is “demanding concessions from flight attendants” while announcing its new Dreamliner interiors on Tuesday.
United’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner cabin design has 99 premium seats and a new business class called Polaris Studio. Meanwhile, the AFA is arguing against proposed concessions in its ongoing labor bargaining with the airline.
A news release published by the union representing 28,000 United flight attendants stated that no other contract across the industry in this round of bargaining included concessions.
“Service doesn’t happen without us,” said AFA International President Sara Nelson and United AFA President Ken Diaz, in the release. “United has the money to invest in an industry-leading Flight Attendant contract with ‘premium’ compensation, work rules, and cabin interiors.
The release noted United CEO Scott Kirby’s 246% increase in compensation over the last two years “while leaving flight attendants nearly four years past due on a raise and contract.”
“Today’s announcement adds insult to injury,” Nelson and Diaz said in the release. “Scott Kirby has no business demanding concessions while stuffing his own pockets with gold and beating his chest about United being the best. Right now, he’s just beating competitors by failing to pay us – the people who make United fly.”
The union stated that negotiations are ongoing in Chicago this week as part of three weeks of back-to-back intensive bargaining with aims toward reaching a tentative agreement.
United’s Labor Fight Continues
United and the AFA have been renegotiating its 2016 ratified contract since August 2021.
The AFA is negotiating for a double-digit pay increase, pay for time at work on the ground, retroactive pay to the amendable date, schedule flexibility, and work rule improvements, among other benefits.
In August 2024, flight attendants in the union voted to authorize a strike if an agreement with United could not be reached. This authorization allowed the union to request a release from the National Mediation Board, which could lead to a 30-day “cooling off” period and strike deadline.
The AFA has yet to exercise this option in its negotiations with United.
