Some 17,000 Airline Workers Get Increase In Pensions After Six-Year IAM, United Talks

Effective April 1, the level at which about 17,000 United Airlines employees earn future service benefits under the International Association of Machinists National Pension Plan will rise to 100 percent, from 85 percent, of the plan’s standard level of benefits, the union announced March 13.

This change marks a major gain for the airline’s IAM-represented workers who were hit financially when the company terminated all employee pensions during its bankruptcy reorganization in 2005 (140 DLR AA-1, 7/22/05).

The IAM was able to secure a defined-benefit plan with the IAM National Pension Plan (IAMNPP) during the ensuing round of ...