United Pilots Voting on New $10 Billion Contract

Pilots at United Airlines began voting Friday on a revised contract with the carrier that will offer about $10 billion of gains over the deal’s four-year duration.

The leadership of United’s Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) chapter voted Thursday to forward the agreement to the company’s 16,000 pilots, with voting to conclude on Sept. 29. United’s ALPA group announced the tentative agreement in mid-July.

In November, more than 90% of United’s pilots rejected a prior agreement that many felt was inadequate on pay and other measures. The new deal includes “industry-leading” pay rates, improvements for retirement plans, sick leave and vacation time, along with changes to improve pilots’ quality-of-life and work rules, ALPA said.

Pilots at American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United have won lucrative new contracts given the industry’s robust rebound from the pandemic and a widespread shortage of qualified pilots. The 15,000 pilots at American ratified their new contract last month, citing $9.6 billion in economic gains; Southwest Airlines and its pilots’ union are still negotiating.