United pilots union furloughs, United Airlines, pilots union reach tentative deal

 United pilots union furloughs, United Airlines, pilots union reach tentative deal.

United Airlines and the union representing its pilots said on Wednesday they have reached a tentative agreement to avoid furloughs of nearly 3,000 aviators.

The air carrier said last week that it planned to furlough or lay off about 16,000 workers, including 2,850 pilots, beginning Oct. 1 unless it received additional federal funding from Congress.

"Any potential mitigation must achieve our goals: stop planned furloughs, stop displacements, and include long-term permanent gains for any short-term, fully recoverable modifications," said Todd Insler, chairman of the United Airlines Chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, in a letter to union members. "Management continues to say they want to reduce involuntary furloughs so they can excel during a future recovery; now is the time to see if they are willing to pay for that flexibility."