5,500 Aircraft Maintenance Technicians And Related Employees To Review, Vote In Coming Weeks

The Teamsters Union and United Airlines Inc. have reached a tentative agreement on a contract for the 5,500 aircraft technicians and related employees throughout the U.S., Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa said in a news release Friday. This is the first contract negotiated by the Teamsters for the group since the workers voted to join the union in March 2008.

"This tentative agreement marks the start of new day for United mechanics," Hoffa said. "This contract makes significant gains in a number of key areas where our members felt they had lost ground in previous contracts. Our negotiating team made addressing these areas their number one priority and did an outstanding job."

Details of the contract will not be released until after it has been presented to and reviewed by the membership in the coming weeks. The union's negotiation team is currently working on the scheduling of membership meetings and securing a date for the ratification vote.

"This is a historic step in the continuing merger process of United and Continental Airlines," said Airline Division Director David Bourne. "I would like to congratulate and commend the hard work and dedication of the union negotiating team, and also want to acknowledge the positive working relationship exhibited by United's management and negotiators during this two-year process."

FMI: www.Teamster.org