United Airlines was hoping this week’s focus would be a positive one, with the unveiling of a new Polaris Business Class cabin upgrade, including caviar service and Studio Suites, with 25% more room and privacy doors.
The new upgrades will (for now) only be on new 787-900 deliveries, but the airline’s ongoing labor issues have found a way into this news.
On Tuesday, May 13, when the announcement was made, some of the responses on Instagram were from people (presumably United employees) arguing that the airline instead needed to be focusing on a new contract for flight attendants. One replied, “Beautiful cabin, I would be so proud to work it if I had a new contract that [would] match that luxury.”
And at an unveiling for the media the same day, a group of what appeared to be 11 flight attendants stormed into the event at the beginning, carrying signs and shouting, “If we don’t get it, shut it down!”
Videos of the protest appeared on Bluesky, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
The protesters were quickly escorted from the event. Now reports are saying that the crew members who protested at the Polaris event have been suspended, pending further inquiry.
The current contract, which was negotiated in 2016, became amenable in mid-2021. The Association of Flight Attendants and United have been negotiating since then, and there have been protests at airports in recent months as a deal has still not been reached.
Last month, CEO Scott Kirby said, “We’re getting close,” on reaching a deal during the company’s first quarter earnings call.
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