The airline company United Airlines and the union ALPA representing its pilots said on Saturday they had reached an agreement on a contract increasing wages of the NTPs of up to 40% over four years.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has valued the deal at around $10 billion, an agreement that comes after more than four years of “tumultuous negotiations” that have led to picketing and talks of a strike vote. Subject to the approval of the 16,000 pilots of the American company based at Chicago-O’Hare airport, would put them on an equal footing with their counterparts in Delta Airlineswho had signed earlier this year.
Once the agreement is described as ” historical by ALPA executive Garth Thompson approved, pilots will receive immediate pay increases ranging from 13.8% to 18.7% depending on the type of aircraft flown, followed by four “smaller” annual increases, ALPA summarizes . Over the term of the contract, pilot compensation would increase from 34.5% to 40.2%the agreement also including improved pension benefits and job security.
The impressive agreement signed by the company of Star Alliance (as by its rival; those ofAmerican Airlines will vote next week) pretty much reflects the power of pilots in companies whose profits are soaring but facing a tightening labor market. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said on social media: We’ve promised our world-class drivers the top contract they deserve, and we’re happy to have achieved a agreement with ALPA on this subject “.
