February 1, 2023

United Airline Pilots and Machinists Picket at SFO

Union Coalition Calls on United to Conclude Negotiations
on Long Overdue Contract

Several dozen members of United Pilots, represented by the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), held an informational picket at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) January 18 to raise awareness of the need to complete bargaining for a long overdue contract. Members of the United Flight Attendants and Machinists unions joined the picket line to show support and solidarity. The action was one of the first by the newly formed United Airlines Union Coalition, created to coordinate closely on bargaining and other issues. ALPA represents 14,000 pilots at United, with 3,000 in the Bay Area.

Dave Fitzgerald of ALPA Local Council 34 said the pilots are still working under terms of a ten-year-old contract and have been seeking a new contract for four years. Fitzgerald noted that contract negotiations were stalled when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and that United received federal pandemic relief funding.

“All employee groups took pay cuts and furloughs and sacrificed for United Airlines,” Fitzgerald said. “Workers made concessions to keep the company viable, and the airlines are recovering now.”

United Airlines reported a $843 million profit for the last three months of 2022, a 31 percent increase compared with the same period in 2019, on revenue of $12.4 billion.

Fitzgerald said the pilot’s union is seeking improvements in the contract, including wages, retirement benefits, and work rules. “It’s time to settle the contract, and reward the workers who keep the airline running,” he said.

United Master Executive Council Captain Mike Harrison released a statement saying, “Our informational picketing sends management the message that United pilots are unified, and we’ve waited long enough for a contract. Continued stalling at the bargaining table puts the company`s growth plans at risk and hinders the airline`s overall goal of being the best airline in the world.” Harrison said United management has chosen to delay the conclusion of negotiations.

A statement form the Association of Flight Attendants said its members, “stand shoulder to shoulder with United Pilots. When we support each other, we raise the bar for everyone. We are unified in our resolve for all workers at United Airlines to reach new contracts! All in, We Win! Show management that Labor supports Labor at United Airlines!”

Four of the five unions in the United Airlines Union Coalition, including AFA-CWA, are currently in negotiations for fair contracts. “None of us can do our jobs without each other. We have each other’s backs in bargaining and we will stand together until all of us have ratified contracts that reflect the world-class airline United should be,” said the coalition leaders in a statement.

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) International President Richie Johnson was among many IAM members who joined the pilots on the picket line. He said the union, which represents roughly 80,000 ramp, stores, and customer service workers at United have been without a contract for three years.

Johnson said United’s CEO Scott Kirby stated he aims to make United the best airline in the world and has proposed new lines, and new fuel and green energy policies, but the airline “is not investing in its most important asset—its employees.” He said the union negotiated an industry-leading contract with Southwest Airlines and is pushing for the same at United. “Other airlines are recovering and taking care of the workers,” he said.

Johnson said establishing the United Airlines Union Coalition was “a big step forward” and that the IAM will continue to support and work with the Pilots, Flight Attendants, and Teamsters unions to win improved contracts and working conditions for UAL employees.