Flight Attendants at United Airlines Move Forward With a Ratified Contract

CHICAGO, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Flight Attendants at United Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today ratified a contract covering the 15,000 pre-merger United Flight Attendants.  An overwhelming majority of Flight Attendants, 88.5 percent, participated in the vote and 70.4 percent solidly cast their ballots in favor of the agreement.  This agreement was reached on January 7, 2012, utilizing a innovative process modeled on the National Mediation Board's Expedited Mediation Program. This is the first post-bankruptcy contract for United Flight Attendants.

"This agreement is good for Flight Attendants and good for the company.  It addresses many immediate needs identified by United Flight Attendants and serves as a stepping-stone to single contract negotiations with our flying partners from Continental and Continental Micronesia," said Greg Davidowitch, president of AFA at United Airlines.

Successful conclusion to single contract negotiations is necessary in order for United to combine Flight Attendant work groups and complete the merger.  The true benefit of a merger is realized through an operational integration and Flight Attendants are a key part of that process and the future success of United Airlines. 

The ratified contract includes significant quality of work life enhancements, new job security protections, scheduling and compensation improvements, including an immediate ten percent wage increase and distribution of a $5,000 signing bonus.  "Our main goal in Expedited Mediation was to secure significant compensation and quality of work life improvements that Flight Attendants told us were must-haves, before moving onto single contract negotiations.  Importantly, this agreement requires United to return to the negotiating table for single contact negotiations no later than this summer," added Davidowitch. 

The Association of Flight Attendants is the world's largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for over 65 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions.  More than 60,000 Flight Attendants, including the 15,000 Flight Attendants at United, join together to form AFA, part of the 700,000 member strong Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.unitedafa.org.

SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA)