The United Airlines Teamsters National Negotiating Committee has resumed bargaining with the airline this week, kicking off the tenth round of negotiations and first for 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. 

After reaching tentative agreements on an overwhelming majority of noneconomic proposals in previous sessions, the committee is now focused on winning a full tentative agreement from United on the economic articles. During Tuesday’s session, the committee voted to advance the union’s initial economic proposals, including substantial pay increases and lower health care costs, to the company for discussion this week. 

“The committee has displayed great unity in getting the economic proposals ready for bargaining and I am proud of the enthusiasm they have for taking our proposals right to United’s doorstep,” said United Airlines Teamsters National Negotiating Committee Chairman Clacy Griswold. “We are ready to fight tooth and nail to reach tentative agreements with the company. One way or another, we will win the contract that United Airlines Teamsters have earned.” 

In addition to fighting for better pay and lower health care costs, the committee is demanding that United return all Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) work back to the United States. 

“United Airlines claims to prioritize safety, but nearly every time we work on a plane that was outsourced to another country, we see major issues that we have to repair,” said Dave Mahood, a technician from Local 210 and member of the negotiating committee. “United needs to stop outsourcing labor for pennies on the dollar and bring that work back here. It is not just disrespectful to United Airlines Teamsters. It’s unsafe for the passengers we serve to keep outsourcing critical MRO work to unlicensed stations overseas.” 

The tenth round of negotiations will continue until January 16.  The eleventh round of negotiations was to be in Los Angeles, but the current situation with the wildfires has moved next week’s negotiations to San Francisco starting January 21. The committee’s thoughts are with all United Airlines Teamsters impacted by wildfires in Los Angeles.