Basic Facts about Negotiations at United

  • In early-April, United will begin negotiating new collective bargaining agreements concurrently with six U.S. unions representing approximately 40,000 United employees.
    Union Employee Group # of Employees % of UAL Total Amendable Date
    IAM Public Contact, Ramp & Stores, Other more than 15,500 31% Jan. 1, 2010
    AFA Flight Attendants more than 13,500 27% Jan. 7, 2010
    ALPA Pilots more than 6,500 12% Jan. 1, 2010
    IBT Mechanics more than 5,000 10% Jan. 1, 2010
    IFPTE Engineers and related more than 260 1% Dec. 31, 2009
    PAFCA Dispatcher more than170 1% Jan. 1, 2010
  • This negotiating process is governed by the Railway Labor Act (RLA), the U.S. federal law that governs collective bargaining in the airline and railroad industries.
  • Current contract terms remain in effect throughout negotiations.
  • The current collective bargaining agreements were negotiated during the Chapter 11 restructuring in 2003 and 2005. That process was governed by the Bankruptcy Code, rather than the RLA.