United pilots ratify contract extension through Jan 2019

United Airlines pilots have voted to ratify a 2-year extension to their labour agreement that pushes the contract through Jan 31, 2019. The ratification is a big win for United, which late last year negotiated an amended collective bargaining agreement with its flight deck crew, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), even though the existing contract didn't expire until Jan 31, 2017. ALPA's United Master Executive Council voted to approve the new deal just before Christmas and sent it to rank-and-file pilots for a ratification vote. ALPA said that 90.9% of the 10,569 pilots eligible to vote participated, with 79% casting ballots in favour of the extended, amended contract. ALPA said that the accord "provides increases in compensation putting United pilots at the top of the industry, restores pay and vacation value to previously furloughed pilots, and enhances the scheduling rules for long-haul flights." <br/>