After years of stalled negotiations and a decisive rejection of a tentative agreement, United Airlines flight attendants are once again sitting down with management. But this time, the tone is sharper, expectations are higher, and patience is wearing thin (not that such sentiment makes a deal any more imminent).
This latest round follows the overwhelming rejection of a tentative agreement last year, when roughly 71% of voting flight attendants said no to a proposed deal that included significant pay increases, signing bonuses, and higher per diem rates. While United characterized that agreement as industry-leading, many flight attendants argued it failed to adequately address core quality-of-life concerns, including scheduling flexibility, rest provisions, and reserve utilization.
The rejected agreement would have delivered immediate wage increases averaging nearly 27%, along with retroactive compensation. However, flight attendants expressed frustration that economic gains were paired with what they viewed as concessions on work rules and long-term protections that if ceded, could never be clawed back. For many, the issue went beyond pay pay, focusing on the cumulative toll of years of what they describe as an erosion of working conditions.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
