AFA-CWA Files for Federal Mediation in United Airlines Negotiations

After three years of negotiations between United Airlines Flight Attendants and the airline, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) has asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) to step in.

"The long-term success of United Airlines depends upon current executives finishing this merger, which includes negotiating a joint Flight Attendant contract, and making good on promises to employees, Capitol Hill and the traveling public," AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson said.

"A clear dispute exists and it is time for federal mediation," Nelson continued. "We are calling on management to negotiate a fair contract within the reality of record profits. Three years after the talks for a joint contract began, management doesn't seemed focused on negotiating a contract Flight Attendants can ratify."

United has failed to reach a unified labor contract with its 24,000 Flight Attendants despite a boast by United Chief Executive Jeff Smisek following the airline's October 2010 merger with Continental that he would complete joint contracts with all workers by the end of 2011. Meanwhile, United Airlines is making record profits and its 2015 income will be more than five times higher than in 2013. Smisek's pay is up 32% and other top executives and shareholders are also cashing in.

United further showed it is tone deaf by recently announcing that it is investing $100 million in a Brazilian airline while refusing to invest in its own workers without a joint contract. Flight Attendants today continue to work separate schedules and on separate airplanes as if they were employed by pre-merger United, Continental or Continental Micronesia. This leads to inefficiencies for the airline and Flight Attendants, and these inefficiencies are, of course, experienced by passengers as well.

Mediation under the Railway Labor Act is a formal, statutorily prescribed process. NMB mediation is not binding. The contract would become effective only by agreement of both parties and it would be subject to membership ratification. If mediation does not result in an agreement, the union may petition for a release, which would lead to a strike deadline. AFA-CWA is focused on reaching an agreement that Flight Attendants can ratify and that contributes to completing the operational integration of United Airlines.

Negotiations updates are posted on OurContract.org, along with a further explanation of mediation.