IAM 141, United Continue Contract Talks Amid Massive Profit Announcement

IAM District 141 negotiators and United management met last week in Chicago. We resumed contract talks, which broke off in late July due to United management’s refusal to provide the job security and compensation necessary to move the process forward.

Negotiations focused again on job security. Both sides discussed ways to achieve the industry-best job security United IAM members prioritized. Both sides’ positions are still far apart.

It’s essential to understand the job security and scope proposals we’re making are not revolutionary. Other airlines already have similar language in their collective bargaining agreements. Our proposals are reasonable. United’s refusal to include basic job security provisions disrespects every IAM member at United.

Both sides also discussed the idea of a short, one or two-year extension of the existing Agreement. We repeat; any agreement, of whatever duration, must include the significant improvements in job security and overall compensation that IAM members deserve.

Also during the week, United reported almost a $1 billion net profit for the third quarter on nearly $13 billion in revenue, which is 13 percent higher than the same quarter of 2019, before the pandemic. CEO Kirby cheered and called this past season “by most metrics, the best operational quarter in our history.”

The 25,000 IAM-represented ground workers are the largest part of United’s operation. The mega-profits United is bragging about would not have been possible without our membership. It’s time for CEO Kirby and the rest of United management to put their money where their mouths are and do the right thing. In Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee

Mike Klemm