United Airlines, Professional Airline Flight Control Association and Transport Workers Union Reach Tentative Agreement

United Airlines

today announced that the company has reached a tentative agreement on a new joint collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Airline Flight Control Association (PAFCA) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) for United's dispatchers. PAFCA represents dispatchers at the United subsidiary, and TWU represents dispatchers at the Continental subsidiary. The tentative agreement covers and is subject to ratification by United's more than 330 dispatchers. United, PAFCA and TWU reached this agreement with the assistance of the National Mediation Board (NMB). "Working with the National Mediation Board, we were able to reach a responsible tentative agreement that recognizes the good work and contributions of our dispatchers," said Tracy Lee, United's vice president of network operations. "I want to thank the National Mediation Board and the negotiating committee for helping us reach this important milestone." In addition, United reached agreement with the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) this week to begin a collaborative process of facilitated problem-solving in an effort to reach a joint collective agreement for flight attendants. United has used similar processes to achieve joint agreements with other work groups, and the airline was encouraged by AFA's commitment to move forward on this positive, working-together path. The parties have requested the assistance of the NMB to facilitate these discussions, and will meet with NMB representatives next week and during the next scheduled bargaining session in June. United has achieved joint collective bargaining agreements with a majority of the company's represented work force, including pilots, fleet service, passenger service, reservations and storekeeper workgroups. The company expects to enter back into negotiations with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, representing United's technicians, soon. About United United Airlines and United Express operate an average of more than 5,200 flights a day to 369 airports across six continents. In 2013, United and United Express carried more passenger traffic than any other airline in the world and operated nearly two million flights carrying 139 million customers. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and, in 2014, will take delivery of 35 new Boeing aircraft, including the B787-9 as the North American launch customer, and will welcome 27 new E175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 195 countries via 26 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.