United Airlines Flight Attendants Reject fresh Tentative Contract, Union Now survey Why

CHICAGO– Flight attendants at United Airlines (UA) recently voted down a proposed labor contract, with 71% rejecting the deal after years of negotiations.

The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), which represents United’s cabin crew, is now surveying members to understand the reasons behind the rejection before returning to the bargaining table in December 2025.

Photo: AFA-CWA

United Attendants’ Union Review

Nearly 92% of United Airlines flight attendants participated in the ballot, showing strong engagement across the workforce.

Despite union leaders presenting the deal as “industry-leading” and more favorable than recent agreements at American Airlines (AA) and Delta Air Lines (DL), the majority of members refused to ratify it.

The AFA-CWA is now distributing surveys to tens of thousands of flight attendants, aiming to identify their most pressing concerns. One theory is that many crew members voted “No” because of an ingrained belief that workers should always reject the first tentative agreement, expecting improved terms in a second round of negotiations.

This pattern has played out across the industry. Flight attendants at American Airlines, Alaska Airlines (AS), and Southwest Airlines (WN) have all rejected initial offers before ultimately ratifying revised contracts.

Union leaders at United had warned that such a strategy doesn’t always secure better outcomes, stressing that in many cases, contract value is simply redistributed rather than increased.

Representative Photo: United Airlines

Survey Findings and Key Issues

The ongoing survey is designed to pinpoint the exact reasons behind the vote. One critical issue likely to resurface is compensation for ground duties.

Currently, United flight attendants are only paid from the moment the aircraft pushes back from the gate until it arrives at its destination. Time spent boarding, deplaning, or transferring between aircraft remains unpaid.

In negotiations, the union initially pushed for full ground duty pay but later accepted a compromise: reduced pay for boarding time. Many members are dissatisfied with this outcome, particularly given the international attention the issue has drawn after a high-profile strike by Air Canada (AC) flight attendants.

Some flight attendants feel the union failed to justify why it abandoned its broader demand for full ground duty compensation. As a result, there is growing frustration among crew members who argue they continue to spend hours on the job without pay, PYOK reported.

Photo: Denver Airport

Next Steps in Negotiations

The bargaining process is now under federal mediation, with the next session scheduled for December 9, 2025, in Chicago (ORD).

Talks are expected to last four days, with additional sessions already planned for January, February, and March 2026.

These discussions will be pivotal in determining whether United Airlines flight attendants secure improvements in pay, working conditions, and recognition of their unpaid ground duties. The survey results will inform union negotiators as they refine their demands ahead of the next round of talks.

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