United, Flight Attendants Agree to Start Talks on Pay

UAL Corp.’s United Airlines and the union representing 25,000 United flight attendants at the world’s largest carrier agreed to open talks Oct. 3 on the possibility of a pay increase for the workers.

The airline also agreed to rehire three flight attendants fired for refusing to fly during two six-day periods in May and August when the airline asked more attendants to be prepared for impromptu assignments, the Assn. of Flight Attendants said.

The agreements came after AFA leaders and United executives met this week at the union’s request to discuss the issues. The union said the pay raise was because of a tentative contract that could raise pilots’ wages. The AFA also said the work and pay issues need to be addressed before it will renegotiate a contract United would need for its planned $4.3-billion acquisition of US Airways Group Inc.

“We have the attention of management, and we don’t intend on losing it,” said Linda Farrow, president of the AFA executive council for the Chicago-based airline.

On Monday, company and union officials met to discuss the AFA’s demands for higher wages. United reached a tentative contract with its pilots in August that would set new standards for pilot pay among commercial passenger airlines.

The union has been trying to pressure the airline through informational picketing and leafleting, though the union said its workers could start declining overtime, as the pilots did.

The union said it’s seeking wages 5% higher than the best in the industry, which tend to be held by the nonunion employees at Delta Air Lines Inc. The United attendants are looking to see their annual pay, which ranges from about $22,000 to $45,000, rise by at least 25%.

UAL shares fell 50 cents to close at $45.56 on the New York Stock Exchange.