United Airlines flight attendants have rejected a new contract that would have given them an immediate average pay raise of 26.9%. On July 29, 2025, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) announced that 71% of voting members turned down the deal, with a record 92% turnout among the 28,000 United Airlines flight attendants. This strong rejection comes after years of tough negotiations and shows that many flight attendants want more from their contract.
The proposed contract included several major benefits. New hires would have seen their hourly pay rise from $28.88 to $36.92, while experienced crew could have earned up to $84.78 per hour. The deal also offered a retroactive bonus averaging $21,500, with some senior attendants eligible for more than $50,000. Over five years, total pay could have increased by up to 45.6%. Other features included boarding pay at half the usual hourly rate, higher per diem allowances, more downtown layover hotels, and keeping the old bidding system for shifts.
Despite these improvements, many flight attendants felt the contract did not go far enough. Ken Diaz, United AFA council president, said the vote “sends a resounding message” that flight attendants “are demanding more” and do not feel valued by management. Key complaints included the lack of full pay for all hours on duty—flight attendants are only paid from when the plane leaves the gate to when it arrives, not for time spent on the ground. Some were also unhappy with the boarding pay compromise, changes to layover hotels, and on-call requirements during layovers.
The union will now survey its members to find out which issues matter most before returning to talks with United Airlines. No date has been set for the next round of negotiations. Until a new contract is agreed upon and approved, flight attendants will not receive the proposed raises or bonuses.
United Airlines has not yet released a detailed response to the contract rejection. The last pay raise for United flight attendants was in 2020. The rejected contract was the result of years of bargaining, including a strike authorization vote in 2024 and federal mediation in 2023. The AFA-CWA had promoted the deal as the best in United’s history, saying it would put United attendants ahead of those at American and Delta. However, some United flight attendants believe contracts at American and Southwest offer better terms, fueling calls for further improvements.
Industry experts say the high rejection rate shows a growing push for better pay and working conditions among airline workers. This could affect contract talks at other airlines as well. If negotiations stall, the union could consider more serious actions, including strikes.
For more information about union activities and updates, visit the AFA-CWA official website. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this vote may set new standards for flight attendant pay and working conditions across the United States 🇺🇸 airline industry. Flight attendants are encouraged to take part in the upcoming survey and stay in touch with their union representatives for the latest news.
Learn Today
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) → Union representing flight attendants advocating for wages and working conditions at United Airlines and others.
Retroactive bonus → A payment given to employees for past work periods after agreement approval.
Boarding pay → Compensation given to flight attendants for the time spent during passenger boarding procedures.
Layover → Scheduled stop between flights where flight attendants rest before next duty segment.
Strike authorization vote → Union vote allowing members to approve a potential strike to leverage contract negotiations.
This Article in a Nutshell
United Airlines flight attendants decisively voted down a contract proposing a 26.9% pay raise amid unresolved issues about wages and work conditions, signaling demands for better compensation and benefits after years of tough negotiations and a record participation of 92%. The union plans further discussions soon.
— By VisaVerge.com
