"Company Continues to Exploit Decade-old Contract" Says ALPA Reps

United Airlines pilots are planning to do a nationwide picket at 10 airports on Friday, May 12th, bringing attention to their frustration with the state of their contract.

The industry's raft of fresh contracts has set off a wave among pilot groups eager to defray their rising cost of living and obtain parity with smaller, less prestigious carriers - and United pilots are no exception.

"After more than four years of empty promises," said the United rep from the Air Line Pilots Association, "thousands of United Pilots will uniformly express their frustration in management’s failure to recognize the value pilots bring to the overall success of the airline." The group drew attention to the pilot base's efforts throughout the pandemic, noting that "United pilots were there for customers during one of the worst times for travel in recent history, and they also helped United Airlines emerge from the pandemic stronger than before."

In return for their fealty, the group wants to "help take United to the next level with the United Next growth plan", bringing about a contract with "modernized work rules" that will "continue to attract the best pilots in the industry."

“Thousands of United Pilots are picketing coast-to-coast today to deliver management a message they cannot ignore; enough is enough,” said United ALPA Master Executive Council chair Captain Garth Thompson. Like their colleagues at Southwest, United pilots have come to loathe their increasingly dated IT infrastructure. 

“We have been stuck with an antiquated scheduling system and a contract nowhere near industry-leading standards. We want United to succeed as industry leaders, and every day that passes without an agreement, is another day the best and brightest future aviators go elsewhere.”

The nationwide picket will have uniformed pilots available for interviews at each location. For a total list of airports picketed, check the link below.

FMI: www.alpa.org