United Airlines Union Workers Accept Contract

United Airlines mechanics and aircraft cleaners approved a contract that will give them their first raise since 1994 and end a bitter two-year dispute.

The contract was ratified by 59% of the voting membership. Under the new contract, senior mechanics’ pay would go from the current $25.60 an hour to $35.14, or about $73,000 a year. For top-scale aircraft cleaners, hourly pay would increase 19% to $19.76 an hour, or about $41,000 a year.

The approval averted a strike that could have started as soon as 9:01 p.m. PST today. Analysts had said a walkout would have forced United into bankruptcy.