United Teamsters Conclude Fourth Round of Bargaining in Chicago: September 26, 2024

United Airlines Teamsters concluded the fourth round of bargaining this evening after three intense days of negotiations with the carrier in Chicago. While United Airlines attempts to move past the Teamsters’ non-economic proposals, the United Airlines Teamsters National Negotiating Committee is holding firm, demanding the carrier come to the table in good faith and take the union’s non-economic proposals seriously. 

“As much as we want to get to the economic part of the contract, we have serious issues that need to be resolved before we can move forward,” said Clacy Griswold, Chairman of the United Airlines Teamsters National Negotiating Committee. “While we had good discussions with the carrier this week, we won’t discuss economics until we lock down every last non-economic item — especially when it comes to our members’ safety. It’s pretty simple: if United Airlines wants to get to the economics, they can stop wasting our time on everything else. The ball is in their court.” 

Teamsters Extend Pressure on United for Safety Protections in Extreme Weather 

During this week’s bargaining, United Airlines Teamsters continued to advocate for increased safety protections during extreme weather events, with the national negotiating committee pushing the company to follow government declarations during a state of emergency. The Teamsters are also fighting for more transparency from the company during these events, including regular communication from the carrier regarding the status of impacted stations. 

“In Florida, we’re facing increasingly severe weather — like Hurricane Helene right now,” said Martin Acosta, a technician from Local 769 in Orlando and member of the national negotiating committee. “United’s lack of communication leaves us vulnerable. We need to be able to protect our families and ourselves, so we’re demanding that United prioritize our safety by keeping us informed.” 

The next round of negotiations will take place in Denver, Colorado from October 7-9.