23 April 2024
Dear Machinists Union Sisters and Brothers at United Airlines,
As President and Directing General Chair of IAM District Lodge 141, I want to thank you for your participation in our recent pre-negotiation surveys. Your insights are crucial as we begin preparations for the upcoming contract talks with the airline. These negotiations will impact 29,000 union members across Fleet Service, Passenger Service, Storekeepers, Maintenance Instructors, Security Officers, Central Load Planners, and Fleet Technical Instructors roles.
In fact, this was the highest level of contract survey participation in the history of IAM District Lodge 141.
Some of the top priorities are reducing the steps of pay progressions, real, enforceable job preferencing, improved pension and 401k contributions, general work scheduling, quality of life improvements, and for-profit sharing to be in line with other work groups at United Airlines.
While these are some of the top member priorities, your negotiating committee plans to work on all areas of our contracts so that IAM members’ value to United Airlines is recognized and realized.
In our last communication, we expressed that we believe we can reach the industry-best contracts we deserve by the end of the calendar year. However, that will only be possible IF United Airlines management is serious about treating us with the respect we deserve. United management talks a good game about having the best employees in the airline industry and United being the premier global airline. Now, the time has arrived for United management to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.
Unfortunately, United management has informed us that they will not be available to meet with your negotiating committee until May 21st. That meeting will discuss protocol, scheduling, and the logistics of negotiations. Though this delay is not ideal, we will use this extra time to refine our strategy and strengthen our position.
Thank you again for your engagement. Remember, our strength is our unity.
In Solidarity,
Your Negotiating Committee
Olu Ajetomobi
Joe Bartz
Jill Hazamy
Victor Hernandez
Barb Martin
Terry Stansbury
Faysal Silwany
Erik Stenberg
Sue Weisner
Michael G Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
District 141,
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers