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Service & Solidarity Spotlight: 29,000 Machinists Members at United Airlines Ratify Industry-Leading Labor Agreements

IAM members at United

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Approximately 29,000 United Airlines workers, members of the Machinists (IAM), have ratified labor agreements with the industry’s best wages and stronger job protections. Members ratified five contracts covering fleet service, passenger service, storekeeper, maintenance instructors, and fleet technical instructors and related, and maintenance instructors. The 118 members in the security guard and central load planners classifications have not ratified their contracts. IAM will continue to work on next steps for these members.

Highlights of the ratified contracts include industry-best wage rates; the insourcing of five previously outsourced locations; protection of full-time employment and opportunities; the permanent prohibition of outsourcing for 17 additional U.S. locations; increased lead and specialty premiums; an extended system of no lay-off protection for tens of thousands more IAM members; an early opener of next negotiations and a signing bonus.
 
“The IAM has once again set the bar for airline workers across the industry,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “We continue to have success reaching agreements that secure our work and turn into airline jobs into family-sustaining careers.”