United Airlines Bargaining Update 4.3.25

Teamsters Conclude Bargaining in Orlando, Tee Up Items for Next Round in Denver

While United Airlines came to negotiations unprepared to bargain on key Teamsters issues, the national negotiating committee took matters into its own hands and worked tirelessly to close out the remaining non-economic items of the collective bargaining agreement. 

During Thursday’s session, United Airlines Teamsters continued subcommittee meetings on Article 12: Field Trips and Article 17: Overtime. While the committee is demanding commonsense proposals that protect Teamsters’ rights in the Field Trips and Overtime articles, United is prolonging bargaining on these items by adding open-ended issues with the intent to delay bargaining. 

“Despite United’s inability to bargain seriously this week, the committee did a fantastic job of holding the company accountable and not allowing the company to set the tone for negotiations moving forward,” said Clacy Griswold, Chairman of the United Airlines Teamsters National Negotiating Committee. “United thought it could come to Orlando and tell us to wait until Denver. That would not fly with the committee, and I’m proud of them for putting their heads down and focusing on reaching a strong new agreement as quickly as possible.” 

In addition to subcommittee meetings, the committee worked to turn the Agreement in Principle reached in November on Article 6: RIF and Recall into a tentative agreement for the company to consider. The committee is working to solidify language in the article that protects Teamsters’ recall rights at their home stations in the event of a Reduction in Force and allow Teamsters to use Craft Seniority if the company transfers work between stations. 

“United didn’t come to negotiate — they came to stall. They thought we’d sit back and accept their games without a fight, but they were dead wrong,” said Dave Mahood, a technician from Teamsters Local 210 serving on the national negotiating committee. “We will not tolerate any more delays. If United comes to the next session with the same attitude, they’re going to see just how angry 10,000 Teamsters can get.” 

The next round of negotiations will take place April 14-16 in Denver.