Originally Posted by
NonSmokingWindow
In the USA, an expired union contract remains in force until such time that a new one is agreed, or a strike is called or mediation is determined to have failed in which the company can impose the last offer, (I think that's how it works...transportation workers have special legislation under the Nat'l Labour Relations Act). The current, expired contract expired about 3 years ago.
That is pretty much how it works under the Railway Labor Act (which covers airline workers), which is a completely different statutory and administrative scheme than the National Labor Relations Act ("NLRA").
As info, under the NLRA, which covers most private-sector companies outside the railroad and airline industries, union contracts do indeed expire at the end of their terms, at which point unions (generally, provided certain technicalities have been met) have the right to immediately strike and employers have the right to lock workers out, unless an extension has been agreed upon.