CHICAGO, Ill. – United Airlines today announced that the company and the International Association of Machinists (IAM), which represents fleet service employees, passenger service employees and certain other work groups, have reached an agreement to expedite contract negotiations for joint collective bargaining agreements for those work groups. The parties have agreed to a bargaining process and timeline designed to achieve joint collective agreements before year-end.
“Expediting negotiations will benefit co-workers and the company. Our longstanding relationship with the IAM continues in a positive direction, and this expedited process should assist us in reaching responsible agreements that pay our co-workers competitively,” said Jon Roitman, senior vice president of Airport Operations and Cargo.
United also announced an agreement with the IAM to in-source airport operations work at Terminal A in Houston, currently handled by third-party suppliers. As part of the company’s ongoing review of sourcing, the parties are actively discussing other opportunities for United employees to perform certain customer service work currently performed by suppliers at additional locations.
Doug McKeen, senior vice president of Labor Relations, noted that, “United, the IAM, and our co-workers share common interests in finalizing joint collective agreements that provide improved pay, competitive benefits and competitive work rules.”
The IAM represents more than 30,000 fleet service, passenger service and other employees at United.