United Attendants Seek Higher Pay in New Contract Talks Amid Scope Changes

United Airlines and Flight Attendants Negotiate New Labor Agreement

CHICAGO– United Airlines (UA) is moving toward a new labor agreement with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, marking a pivotal moment after over five years without a pay increase for its cabin crew. The discussions are expected to wrap up by March 27, as both parties work to finalize the revised contract terms.

These negotiations primarily revolve around United Airlines’ operations at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The airline has proposed leading industry pay rates along with new sit-pay provisions, although union leaders might agree to some job protection adjustments in exchange.

Flight Attendants Push for Improved Conditions

In 2024, United Airlines flight attendants rejected a tentative agreement, prompting fresh negotiations focusing on enhancing compensation and work conditions. One of the main union requests involves sit pay—compensation for waiting time at airports, which has traditionally gone unpaid. United has expressed readiness to include this in the new contract, marking a significant policy transition.

Additionally, flight attendants are advocating for better standards regarding layover hotels, seeking stronger contract language to ensure a consistent quality and safety during overnight stays.

Negotiating the Scope Clause

One of the key trade-offs under consideration relates to the contract’s scope clause, which typically safeguards union jobs by limiting outsourcing and the establishment of low-cost subsidiary airlines. Currently, United cannot operate commercial flights using an affiliate unless the attendants on those flights belong to the United seniority list and fall under the union agreement.

The present agreement also prevents United from creating or acquiring a so-called alter-ego airline that would function outside the primary labor contract. If the union relaxes this provision, United could potentially own a regional airline with its own flight attendant staff, possibly lowering operational costs.

Analysis of Unusual Negotiations

Labor scope clauses are not typically up for negotiation as they ensure job security. Analysts in aviation highlight that compromising on scope provisions is rare. However, this particular proposal might bear less risk than initially thought. Even with changes to flight attendant scope rules, significant restrictions from the pilot contract would still apply.

The Air Line Pilots Association agreement imposes strict limits regarding regional flying for United Express.

Regional Operations and Pilot Contracts

The pilot agreement establishes detailed restrictions on aircraft size, fleet composition, and route structures for regional flights. Aircraft with 50 seats cannot surpass 90 percent of the mainline single-aisle fleet. Meanwhile, regional jets with 70 or 76 seats are restricted to 255 aircraft total, including a maximum of 153 with 76 seats. Expansion options require adding qualified small narrowbody aircraft to United’s mainline fleet.

Additional network limits include:

• 80 percent of United Express flights must be less than 900 miles.
• Flights between United hubs cannot exceed 5 percent of total United Express flying hours.
• At least 90 percent of regional flights must connect to hubs or designated large stations.

These restrictions will remain, even if the flight attendant contract permits United to own a regional airline.

United’s Regional Airline Investments

United Airlines currently maintains minority stakes in multiple regional carriers operating United Express flights. It owns about 22.3 percent of Republic Airways, which recently added Mesa Airlines to its portfolio, along with a 40 percent share in CommuteAir. Previously, United held 49.9 percent of ManaAir, the parent company of ExpressJet.

These investments give United influence over regional operations without full control. A modification to the flight attendant scope clause could pave the way for the airline to achieve majority ownership of a regional carrier for the first time.

The Implications of Upcoming Negotiations

For United Airlines, possible contract alterations could foster innovative regional business models and greater operational control. For flight attendants, the potential trade-offs could result in overdue pay raises and new compensation structures, including sit pay.

The final decision will depend on whether union members assess the financial advantages as sufficient to justify easing one of the contract’s most protective clauses. Negotiations will persist until March 27, the last planned day of talks for the month.