Frequently Asked Questions

1.What is Section 6?
“Section 6” refers to Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which sets forth the process under which a carrier or union must serve notice of an intent to renegotiate an existing collective bargaining agreement. Section 6 is one of several sections of the RLA that govern the entire negotiating process for airlines and their unions.
2.When do United’s current collective bargaining agreements become amendable?
The current collective bargaining agreement for IFPTE-represented employees becomes amendable on December 31, 2009. The collective bargaining agreements for ALPA, IAM, IBT and PAFCA-represented employees become amendable on January 1, 2010. The current collective bargaining agreement for AFA-represented employees becomes amendable on January 7, 2010.
3.What happens if new contracts can’t be reached by the amendable dates?
Terms of the existing contracts remain in effect throughout the negotiations process, even if these negotiations extend past the amendable dates.
4.When was the last time United and the unions representing its employees conducted Section 6 negotiations? Is Section 6 a different negotiations process than United and its unions went through during the Chapter 11 restructuring?
United and most of its unions last conducted Section 6 negotiations between 2000 and 2002. The existing collective bargaining agreements were negotiated during the Chapter 11 restructuring in 2003 and 2005. That process was governed by the Bankruptcy Code, rather than Section 6 of the RLA. (United and the AFA last conducted Section 6 negotiations in the late-1990s.)
5.Why are negotiations beginning in early-April?
United and most of the unions agreed to early commencement of negotiations when the existing agreements were last renegotiated in 2005. Starting negotiations approximately nine months before the amendable dates of the existing CBAs is intended to allow the parties additional time to reach an agreement before the amendable dates.
6.Which unions will be entering negotiations?
Each of the six unions representing United employees will be starting contract negotiations in early-April: AFA, ALPA, IAM, IBT, IFPTE and PAFCA.
7.What is the National Mediation Board and what role does it play during contract negotiations?
The National Mediation Board (NMB) is an agency of the U.S. government. If United and a union representing its employees cannot agree to an amended contract, the NMB determines whether its mediation services would assist in that process. If the NMB offers mediation, it continues until an agreement is reached or until the NMB determines that continuing this part of the process is not likely to be productive and releases both parties from mediation. An overview of the Section 6 negotiations process is available here.
8.How long do you expect this process to take?
There is no time limit on negotiations or mediation under the RLA, and the typical duration depends on a variety of factors, including the actions of the parties involved in this process. We hope to reach mutually beneficial agreements with our unions as quickly as possible. We will, however, take whatever time is necessary to reach mutually beneficial agreements that provide rewarding jobs and position the company for success.
9.What issues do you expect to be on the table during these negotiations?
Section 6 negotiations can cover all aspects of a collective bargaining agreement, including but not limited to compensation, work rules and working conditions. United and the unions representing its employees will present each other with initial lists of proposed changes to the existing contracts in early-April 2009, and additional items may be added as the negotiations proceed.