Flight attendants at United Airlines have ratified a new five-year labor agreement that increases base wages by 31%, establishes pay for time spent during passenger boarding, and includes $741 million in retroactive pay, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said on Tuesday.
The union, which represents nearly 30,000 United flight attendants covered by the pact, reported that 82% of those voting supported ratification. The contract terms had been disclosed by the airline in March and were finalized following federal mediation at the National Mediation Board.
According to the union, the framework reached at the National Mediation Board was negotiated with assistance from mediator Michael Kelliher. Talks between United and its cabin crew had moved into federal mediation in 2023 after bargaining did not produce a final agreement. The union also noted that a previous tentative deal presented in July 2025 had been rejected by members, who said it did not meet their demands.
Key elements of the ratified contract include a 31% increase in base pay for eligible flight attendants, the introduction of remuneration for the time that passengers take to board aircraft, and a combined $741 million in retroactive payments. The contract spans five years and covers the flight attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.
The union emphasized the strong level of member support for the agreement, with more than four out of five voting in favor. The outcome follows an extended process of federal mediation and at least one earlier tentative agreement that members declined to accept.
Context and implications
While the finalized contract specifies the headline elements of pay increases, boarding compensation, and retroactive awards, the union statement did not detail the schedule for implementation of the increases or the timing of the retroactive payments. The agreement represents a settled set of terms after mediation facilitated at the National Mediation Board and now moves forward with union membership approval.
The ratification concludes a negotiation sequence that included federal mediation beginning in 2023 and a rejected tentative agreement in July 2025. The union identified mediator Michael Kelliher as instrumental in reaching the final terms.
What we know
- The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA represents nearly 30,000 United flight attendants covered by the contract.
- 82% of voting members ratified the five-year agreement.
- Contract highlights include a 31% rise in base pay, boarding pay, and $741 million in combined retroactive pay.