United Airlines Pilots Union Votes Unanimously to Authorize Strike Vote

In a significant development, the pilots union at United Airlines has unanimously approved the authorization of a strike vote, according to a letter issued by the union chair on Friday.

The letter stated, “Further details regarding the imminent strike vote will be communicated to you in the following days.” A spokesperson from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) clarified that the date for the strike vote has not yet been finalized.

This decision comes after Delta Air Lines pilots recently ratified a contract that offers substantial pay and benefit increases totaling over $7 billion over a four-year period.

Experts in the industry have indicated that Delta’s new contract is now serving as a benchmark for contract negotiations throughout North America.

“We have presented our pilots with an exceptional agreement, positioning us at the forefront of the industry. We are actively engaged with ALPA to reach a mutually beneficial settlement,” stated a representative from United Airlines. The spokesperson further assured that United’s flight operations will continue as scheduled while negotiations progress.

The consideration of a strike vote is a customary bargaining tactic employed by unions during contract negotiations, and it does not necessarily imply an immediate walkout by the pilots.

United’s existing contract, which expired in 2019, has been under negotiation for the past five years. Last year, the tentative contract was overwhelmingly rejected by the pilots, as the union deemed it insufficient in meeting their demands. Since then, United pilots have been actively advocating for an improved agreement.