breaking

United Airlines Flight Attendants Ratify Five-Year Contract With 31% Raises

United Airlines flight attendants have ratified a new five-year labor agreement featuring 31% average increases to base pay, effective by August. The deal marks the final major U.S. carrier with unionized cabin crews to conclude post-pandemic labor negotiations. Approximately 30,000 flight attendants will receive their first raises in nearly six years. Union members approved the contract with 82% support, with close to 90% participation in voting. Beyond wage increases, the agreement includes boarding pay—compensation during aircraft loading when carriers previously did not clock pay. The contract also provides roughly 7% to 8% additional compensation gains and $741 million in retroactive payments. Quality-of-life provisions include red-eye flight restrictions and "sit pay" during operational disruptions exceeding two and one-half hours. The preliminary agreement was reached in March following union rejection of an earlier contract proposal.