United Airlines Flight Attendants Reject Contract Offer

United Airlines flight attendants have voted down a preliminary contract that their union had agreed to with the airline in May.

Members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) rejected the contract, which included raises of at least 26% for United flight attendants. The president of the United Airlines chapter of the AFA Ken Diaz said in a statement Tuesday that the agreement “didn’t go far enough to address the years of sacrifice and hard work to make the airline the success it is today.”

According to the AFA, more than 92% of the eligible voters cast a ballot, with 71% voting not to ratify the agreement.

“Our union will survey members as quickly as possible to identify the key issues Flight Attendants are ready to fight to achieve in an agreement they want to ratify. We always said no matter the outcome of the vote, we will fight forward and that is what we will do with the power of 28,000 Flight Attendants and our whole union standing together,” Diaz said.

United says it is still hopeful to reach an agreement and that the vote by the AFA “will result in a delay.” “We remain focused on getting our flight attendants the contract they deserve,” United said. 

Last summer, members of the United chapter of the AFA voted to authorize a strike amidst the negotiations with the airline. They also filed for federal mediation.