United Airlines flight attendants reject day deal - just as we predicted

In a decisive move that surprised many industry observers, United Airlines flight attendants overwhelmingly rejected a tentative contract agreement on Tuesday that would have delivered immediate pay raises of at least 26% and other purported benefits. The vote sends a clear signal that years of stagnant wages and what crew members perceive as lack of respect from management won't be easily remedied with money alone.

The rejection was resounding, with 71% of flight attendants voting against the proposed five-year contract despite significant pay raises. Of the union's 28,000 members, an impressive 92% participated in the vote, demonstrating the high stakes and strong feelings surrounding the negotiations.

A pre-vote poll conducted by USTN accurately predicted the outcome, showing 74% of United flight attendants opposing the deal, remarkably close to the actual 71% rejection rate. The poll, which surveyed flight attendants before voting closed, revealed deeper issues beyond just compensation.

United Airline flight attendants vote against the tentative contract agreement.

The rejected deal was substantial by any measure. The tentative agreement included immediate raises of at least 26%, a one-time retroactive bonus, and an additional holiday. For many flight attendants, this would have meant receiving retro pay bonuses averaging $21,500, with veteran crew members potentially seeing windfalls of $50,000 or more. However, this just barely compensates the 24% loss in real-term earnings that United staff have suffered due to inflation.

New hire flight attendants would have seen their hourly wages jump from $28.88 to $36.92, while the most senior crew members could have earned up to $84.78 per hour. The deal was estimated to be worth an additional $6 billion over the lifetime of the five-year agreement.

One significant change in the tentative agreement was the introduction of "boarding pay", compensation at half the normal hourly rate for the time spent boarding passengers and pushing back from the gate.

Previously, United flight attendants weren't paid until the aircraft door closed and the plane pushed back. While boarding pay represents progress, the union had been pushing for "ground duty pay," which would compensate flight attendants for all time spent at work, not just when flying.

United Airlines responded diplomatically to the rejection, stating: "Our flight attendants are the best in the industry and this tentative agreement included numerous improvements and industry-leading pay. While this vote will result in a delay and the AFA-CWA has outlined several steps to return to negotiations, including coordination with the National Mediation Board, we remain focused on getting our flight attendants the contract they deserve."

For now, United's 28,000 flight attendants have made their position clear: after years of sacrifice and hard work to help make the airline successful, they believe they deserve more than what was on the table, even if that table included a substantial 26% pay increase. The next round of negotiations will reveal whether United is willing to meet those expectations.