United Airlines pilots secure temporary employment contract with pay rises of up to 40%

New York CNN –

United Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, have reached an agreement in principle with the airline that grants pilots a pay rise of up to 40%, the union confirmed to CNN on Saturday.

The deal is worth about $10 billion over the contract period, the union said, with improvements in “quality of work life, compensation, job security, labor rules, retirement, benefits.”

The settlement ends something of a longstanding standoff between the parties: the Pilots and United management have been negotiating for more than four years, the union said.

As the post-pandemic travel boom picks up, more pilot union groups are calling for improved services. Delta pilots approved a contract in March that included a pay rise of about 34%. American Airlines pilots will also vote on a contract.

The new United contract provides for cumulative wage increases ranging from 34.5% to 40.2% depending on the type of aircraft a pilot flies, the union said.

“We promised our world-class pilots the industry-leading contract they deserve, and we are pleased to have reached an agreement with ALPA,” United Airlines said in a statement. “Once ratified, the four-year agreement will deliver a significant pay increase and quality of life improvement for our pilots, while putting the airline on the right track to realize the incredible potential of our United Next strategy.”

After the negotiators have formulated the final version, the agreement must be ratified by the 16,000 member pilots.