As we enter what may be the final week of negotiations (March 24th - 27th), we wanted to give you a clearer sense of where negotiations stand and what to expect going forward as we push to secure our revised Tentative Agreement. 

This week, we met in Federal Mediation in Chicago. The parties made substantial progress on all outstanding issues and are very close to a final Tentative Agreement. We are down to several open issues which we anticipate resolving at our next Mediation session in Washington, DC, from March 24^th to the 27^th. We expect we will be able to reach a complete Tentative Agreement at that session. 

We met last week in Chicago from February 10th-12th for Federal Mediation to continue our push for a revised Tentative Agreement. In this update, we want to provide insight of where we are in bargaining and what to expect moving forward.

Since we started bargaining in October, we have worked through many of the non-economic issues. These include fixes to language in areas such as Hotels and electronic notifications. Those discussions have gone well overall, and we have made progress in improving contractual language.

Last week, we met in Federal Mediation in Chicago to continue our push for a revised Tentative Agreement.

Discussions at the beginning of the week focused on the remaining non-economic issues, including hotels and electronic notifications. We have made progress in these areas and will now move on to the next phase of negotiations. As is typical, economic provisions, including pay rates and major work rules, are discussed towards the end of negotiations. 

Next Steps in Bargaining

As we continue our push for a Contract for United Airlines Flight Attendants, we will meet in Federal mediation in Chicago on January 6 - 9, 2026.  

During this mediation session, your Negotiating Committee will continue to fight for our agenda, which includes securing a sit rig, targeted scheduling improvements, including electronic notification and redeye flying, improved Reserve Availability Periods (RAPs), tightened language on hotels, and Contract enforcement. 

This week, we met in Chicago for Mediation from December 9th to the 12th to negotiate on a revised Tentative Agreement (TA2). 

Last night, many of you received an email from United corporate communications. The communication was written as if negotiations for the week had concluded. The email was misleading as the negotiations continued today. This week, Federal Mediation was from Tuesday through Friday. The typical custom would be to communicate once negotiations had concluded.

Targeted Proposals Presented to United Management

From October 29th to the 31st, your Negotiating Committee met with United management to commence bargaining for a revised Tentative Agreement.

United MEC Approves Targeted Proposals to be Presented to United Airlines

Yesterday, the United Master Executive Council met with the Negotiating Committee to review the targeted proposals for TA2. The United MEC unanimously approved these proposals to be presented to United Airlines management next week to begin the next round of bargaining. These proposals were derived directly from your survey responses and address the top priorities of the Membership.

October Negotiations Session Will Continue Despite Government Shutdown

Due to the Federal government shutdown, mediators from the National Mediation Board are unable to hold any mediation sessions during this period. Although the duration of the shutdown is uncertain, we wanted to confirm that our upcoming negotiations session, scheduled for October 29 - 31, will proceed without interruption.

Meeting with Management and NMB - Additional Dates Secured

On Monday, September 15, AFA and United management met with the Federal Mediator to discuss plans for resuming Contract negotiations.

Over the next several weeks, the Negotiating Committee, supported by AFA Legal and our Professional Negotiators, will review the survey data. Based on the survey results, which will include the essay responses provided by Members, we will identify a targeted set of issues and develop proposals in advance of our return to the bargaining table.

The Official United AFA Negotiations Survey will open today at Noon ET. This survey aims to identify Flight Attendants' core priorities and help prepare new proposals, based on your feedback. Member participation is crucial for our path forward to TA2.

Over the past three days, your AFA elected leadership gathered in Chicago with one purpose: to face the challenges ahead and find the strongest path forward for our return to the bargaining table to secure Tentative Agreement two (TA2). These discussions were honest, strategic, and focused on the feedback you have been providing to your Local Council Leadership.