After over two years of negotiating, United Airlines and the International Association of Machinists have reached a tentative settlement on a new contract for the 23,000 customer service, ramp and security workers at United represented by the IAM. Union members will vote sometime in the next two weeks on weather to accept the fifty-one month contract, which includes benefits improvement and the first raises in eight years for the workers, that will put their wages well above those of similar workers at other airlines. United CEO Jack Creighton characterized the agreement as critical in order to move ahead with negotiations on concessions and other plans to stabilize the airline?s dismal finances.
See "Tentative United Contract Opens Way for Concessions", KEITH L. ALEXANDER, The Washington Post, April 25, 2002