United Airlines has announced that pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have ratified a new joint labor agreement for all United, Continental pilots. The agreement was reached after over two years of negotiations for a joint collective bargaining agreement with United Continental, the company that was formed at the 2010 merger of United parent UAL and Continental Airlines.
The contract agreement moves the airline further toward integrating the two airlines as well as creating a single workforce.
"The ratification of this agreement is an important step forward for our pilots and the company," said Fred Abbott, senior vice president of flight operations. "We look forward to the efficiencies and teamwork we will achieve as our pilots become one group once they complete their seniority integration."
The integration of seniority lists from both companies, the next step in the process, will take several months to complete.
