United Airlines pilots approved a four-year contract with compensation increases of up to 40.2%, making the airline the last of the three largest U.S. airlines to reach an agreement with its aviators during an industry shortage.
According to the Air Line Pilots Association, the pilots’ union, the transaction is valued at roughly $10 billion. ALPA announced on Friday that 82% of the more than 97% of United pilots who voted approved the new contract.
The pilots of Delta Air Lines and American Airlines ratified new contracts with substantial pay increases earlier this year. The COVID pandemic derailed airline negotiations, but pilots and other labour unions in the industry have pushed aggressively for increased compensation and improved work standards since travel demand has rebounded and inflation has increased.
Other unions are also advocating for increased wages and benefits, calling for strikes or prospective strikes if negotiations fall short of their demands. UAW President Shawn Fain stated that the union plans to expand demonstrations against General Motors and Ford Motor to two additional U.S. assembly facilities on Friday.
This week, Hollywood writers and studios finalised the terms of an agreement that ended a nearly 150-day strike.
