United and ground-service workers’ union tentatively agree to contract for 29,000 employees

United Airlines and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), the union representing 29,000 ground-service workers, have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The deal, which promises higher pay and better working conditions for employees at the Chicago-based carrier, now goes to the union members for a vote, which will begin on 24 April and last through 1 May, IAMAW says on 13 April. The union says the agreement would provide “industry-best” wages. It covers fleet-service workers, passenger-service workers, storekeepers, central load planners, maintenance instructors, fleet technical instructors and security officers. Airlines are striving to recruit and retain workers as the travel industry faces a busy summer travel season, with pent-up demand for air travel ongoing following the Covid-19 pandemic. Separately, United is negotiating a new contract with pilots. Last month, Delta Air Lines’ pilots agreed to a new multi-year deal that will give them a 34% pay increase by 2026. US airlines are broadly facing a shortage of pilots, which is pressuring carriers to boost pay.<br/>