United Airlines picket, demand new contracts
tonight pilots from at least three major U.S. Airlines are upset with their contracts just as the summer travel season gets set to take off. Fox26houston.com is Matthew Seedorf outside Houston's Bushin Air Continental Airport tonight, where United Airlines pilots were out picketing today. Matthew. That's right, Caroline.
Hundreds of pilots wearing full uniform outside the airport, picketing for new contracts today, likely worrying many passengers. Hundreds of United Airlines pilots outside Houston's Bush Airport picketing, wearing full uniforms and holding signs demanding new contracts. This is important because we're in a really slow pace of the negotiation, where it doesn't seem that the contract is really progressing at a pace that is acceptable to these pilots. At least 2,000 United pilots Friday picketing at major airports nationwide. They say they've been flying without their pay going up for five years. Two months ago, Delta pilots landed a new contract, raising pay by 34% over four years, which United says they're willing to match, but their pilots want changes to work rules and their scheduling system, making it harder for management to have them fly on scheduled off days. All of these airlines are competing for the same pool of applicants.
We think we would get the best pilot applicants with the best contract. Clearly people want to go where the working conditions are the best. Why is this happening right now? There are contracts that just expired that either hadn't been renewed right away or things were postponed because of the pandemic. Southwest and American Airlines pilots also upset picketing and negotiating their contracts. If you have anywhere crucial to be, get there early, maybe leave a bit of a buffer. You know, if you're flying to catch a cruise or something, don't fly in two hours before. United pilots are always at the table ready to negotiate to get the deal complete.
A spokesperson from United Airlines telling us tonight that they're continuing to work with pilots on what they call an industry-leading deal, adding all of United flights will operate as planned while our pilots exercise their right to distribute information and pick it while off duty. Where will I? That Bush Airport tonight. Matthew C. Dorff, Fox 26 News.
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