United Airlines had some real theatrics today at Brooklyn Navy Yard where they were touting their vision for a new premium product – with flight attendant protestors rushing the stage.
One Mile at a Time reported the incident at United’s media event unveiling new Polaris business class suites, where flight attendants rushed the stage to protest the lack of a new contract. It has been five years since they’ve had a raise. Their contract became amendable four years ago.
Shortly before United executives got on stage to speak, roughly a dozen United flight attendants in uniform walked right in front of the stage with large signs, loudly screaming phrases like:
“If we don’t get it, shut it down”
“What do we want? A contract. When do we want it? Now!”This lasted for maybe a minute, but security then stepped in and ushered them out to leave, with one person even being heard accusing them of trespassing.
Here’s video:
The FAs have their say at today’s UA new Polaris event pic.twitter.com/eyooJNbEGT
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) May 13, 2025
But first, a brief protest by a very vocal group of United flight attendants demanding better contract terms. Good on them!
— Jason Rabinowitz (@airlineflyer.net) May 13, 2025 at 9:08 AM
The United Airlines flight attendants union put out a statement in protest as well.
United Airlines management today announced new premium cabins while continuing to demand concessions from Flight Attendants in negotiations this week.
“Service doesn’t happen without us,” said @FlyingWithSara & @AFAUnitedMEC Pres. Ken Diaz. https://t.co/9KfxdbMy4h #ContractNow https://t.co/vjAvgHHIuH
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) May 13, 2025
It is of course correct that United’s flight attendants should get raises. The value of their 2020 wages have been significantly eroded by inflation, and flight attendants at non-union Delta and at American and Southwest now earn more than they do.
At the same time, the length of time it’s taken to get a contract was first a function of the pandemic (it made no sense to bargain during Covid, because that would have been a concessionary agreement) and of the strategy employed by the union.
The United Airlines flight attendants union chose to have American Airlines ‘go first’ in negotiations, and even lent their chief negotiator to American’s contract talks even though American flight attendants are represented by a different union.
- That way if a strike was necessary to get to a better deal, it would be a different union’s members who suffered to set a higher bar for wages.
- And the United flight attendants union would have that contract as a jumping off point to negotiate from.
United Employees Were Happy At The Last Polaris Reveal
What they didn’t count on was the delay costing them leverage. President Biden was the most pro-union President in modern memory, and even he didn’t sign off on an airline strike. (Presidents appoint a majority to the National Mediation Board which authorizes airline strikes, and has the authority to pause them.) An airline strike becomes less likely in this new administration. The union fired its negotiators.
That’s how we got where we are today. United flight attendants need a deal quickly, in case the economy deteriorates and their bargaining position erodes further.
New United Airlines Business Class Row 1
New United Airlines Business Class Row 1
They also need United to be able to attract premium revenue to pay for the wages they’re demanding. Part of that is having a competitive business class product – exactly what these crewmembers were protesting today. Better onboard service from cabin crew, and a better hard product, will drive revenue gains that fund their wages.
Hope those FAs were happy to work at UA. They should be, and hopefully will be, fired immediately. Forget any union help, I’m sure UA can find a couple of valid reasons to fire them. BTW, do they understand their action actually undermined their ability to get a better contract? This was a marketing event to drum up business and that ultimately helps them through contract terms (or at least profit sharing). So stupid!
Thank you, Gary. It’s nuanced, for sure, and I appreciate your describing the context above. Major takeaway: “It is of course correct that United’s flight attendants should get raises.” Well said.
@AC — Those that ‘spoke out’ here will likely not be ‘fired’ at all (and not ‘immediately’ either). Your suggestion that the airline ‘indirectly’ retaliate against them is also wrong.
Yet again, this is one of many reasons why unions are indeed important and beneficial for workers and the society at-large. Unions enable higher wages, better benefits, increased job stability, safer workplaces, and more. I’ll keep reminding you and the others.
One would think we would know about a recession by now. I think one picture is clear United and Delta can and will demand premium profits. United obviously has the leg up with that given it’s hubs and premium international routes.
While you paint a imagine of a recession it’s clear United and Delta will be fine. I’m looking at loads for United on international and you know what I’m seeing? Full, full, full
Next Spring and summer will be no different. The only question seems to be about American…
These corporations all suck! They cry that they don’t have money to pay their front line workers more money but their execs make millions! Why don’t they take a pay cut so the people who actually make the business run can make a decent wage??
The company I work for is the same way. Execs make 4x what we make and they cry about “the budget” whenever we ask for money.
Wow this is still going on? Good article . I assumed United had the highest paid flight attendants. The CEO is well compensated. 34million
There is a right way for union employees to protest. If they were not invited and crashed into this event they could be considered trespassers. Walking a line outside with signs supporting the improvements while pointing out how the new contract will only add to the best experience, might have been a better approach. Yes they need a raise but do the right thing to get it
Hilarious. Would love to see a video of that and Scooter running for cover. By the way what pronoun does Scooter use? He likes dresses sometimes.
Let’s see what happens at the meetings the DOT has called to discuss delays at EWR but if they really push forward w/ cutting EWR schedules by up to one half even for six months, UA has the potential to wipe between $1 billion and $2 billion in revenue off their books.
The only reason why higher labor costs haven’t bit harder including for AA is because fuel is down 20% over the past year, saving the big 3 a couple billion dollars per year. If fuel starts going back up after large increases in labor costs, a number of airlines will be cooked.
UA FAs will become increasingly restless as will UA mechanics that have already rejected a concessionary contract proposal that they nearly unanimously voted down.
UA’s labor costs are going to go up or they will face more and more labor unrest.
Is behaving like this a terminating offense? It should be. Unions create harmful tribal loyalties within a business, but this takes sabotage to another level. No business should have to put up with this disloyal behavior from their employees.
Having flown Polaris a few times in the last years, these enhancements are amazing. But, the service on the plane needs to improve drastically and I’m not only talking about the meals. These FA’s want a contract, well maybe be better at your job. Don’t throw the trays of food down and stomp off like you’re being inconvenienced by the very people who pay your wages (hint, it’s not United). I don’t expect to be waited on hand and foot but I expect to be treated like I paid a premium to be there.
Word from the back of the plane is, service isn’t much better. I get better service on short UA express flights than I’ve received in their premium product. Any new contract must include the ability to deal with FA’s who work the bare minimum, who piss and moan, and treat the lifeblood of the airline (the customer) with no respect.
The FAs are right. The senior FAs have seen it before. It’s Polaris 3.0 with higher workload. Let the decline begin. At least it’s not the Delta a-la-carte business class plan which is bizarre. Having a few conspicuous “throne suites” in each business class cabin put FAs in the stressful and awkward position of explaining why 2A doesn’t get the high-end moisturizer that 1A gets. Remember when Continental Business First with multi-course dining became Polaris with lesser dining which became Polaris with single tray dining? Counting the days until Saks bedding will only be provided to the 1A’s. There must be a better way to differentiate a product with consistent quality. Will senior execs or high-spend leisure travelers opt for this new product or for the near-private jet La Premiere experience of Air France? And will United assign non-revs to unsold suites? I guess we’ll see.
That’s right serve them ignorant inbred MAGA supporters get your contract! Let them know it’s time
@Chopsticks — Clearly, there is an impasse in the current contract negotiations. Obviously, a more constructive approach is good-faith negotiation between management and union leaders. And if that fails, a strike may be likely or even necessary.
However, what you suggested above, sabotage and/or disloyalty, can be serious accusations (actual crimes in some cases). Yet, merely ‘speaking out,’ as these members did in-protest, certainly does not rise to that level (of a literal crime). So, thankfully, I doubt anyone is getting fired here.
@Justsaying — I hope you’re being satirical. People of all backgrounds fly Polaris, not just just supporters of #45/47 (and not just the ‘super wealthy’ either). Likewise, people of all backgrounds work for these airlines, too.
Personally, I tend to be on the side of consumers and workers, because usually individually and as groups, those tend to have less power than the super-wealthy, big corporations, and management, who tend to have most of the power. Sometimes, there are great leaders who balance this well. Other times, it’s like dealing with a ruthless authoritarian.
I’ll say this, the oligarchs seem to fear unions, and spend a lot of money villainizing them. Some of y’all above have clearly copied and parroted their propaganda. Oof.
@AC why should they be fired? They negotiate their contract and United has NOT bargained in good faith. They have every right to expect and want better for themselves to cost. A living in this country has skyrocketed and these flight attendants have been not without a contract for five years, which means probably no pay raise for at least 10 years. United wants to do an agreement with JetBlue. They better come up with agreement for the unit Flight Attendant or nothing is gonna happen.. just because you’re a miserable human being. Doesn’t mean you have the right to deny Flight Attendant the right to a better quality of life.
But what does the man being gifted a “free” $400M jet think of the no-raise situation? Can’t the flight attendants just buy fewer things? Fewer dolls and pencils?
@1990. Did 46 or whoever had control of the auto pen fear the railroad workers in 2022?
@Andy. Has 45 & 47 ordered the F/A’s back to work? Was it a Demo or Repub that ordered the pilots at AA back to work?
It is possible to have a correct message that is delivered in a bad way.
They deserve a contract, period. I don’t care what the excuse is. We must respect organized labor in this country, and the company must negotiate in good faith..
They trespassed and disturbed a company event. Fire them. Simple as that.
Termination with cause. No employer of mine would have ever tolerated such an embarrassing, counterproductive display of childish insubordination.
Weird comme ts, here.
Are the union bosses not doing their job?
I think it’s rather silly for airline crew to both pay union dues to bosses who supposedly negotiate for them, and also take time away from work and pleasure to do their own “shut it down” negotiating.
But what do I know? Im just a leisure passenger who hasn’t gotten a COLA in 20 years and am subjected to higher fares and fees and smaller seats and surly service……
WE DO NOT HAVE APPROPRIATE STAFFING FOR THESE ENHANCEMENTS, flight attendants here, yes we value passengers basically making the company money to support us; what you fail to understand is a lot of YOUR money is going to the CEO and higher ups while we ask for ONE more flight attendant per flight so we are able to provide a luxury service. Soooooo many Polaris seats with only 3-4 flight attendants, which are dealing with pilot breaks, meals, one is in charge of the food, we are overworked (not paid for delays) rolled into our days off yet we need to be happy! ?
Caviar on UA, mmmmm.
the caviar is for advertising purposes only.
If you believe that FAs will succeed at delivering one product at row 1 and another product for the 7 rows behind, you are in for a rude awakening.