HOUSTON -- Dozens of Continental Airlines workers gathered in Houston Monday to protest anti-union pamphlets that they say are circulating within the company.
Continental fleet service workers are trying to form a union through a group called the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and workers say they've seen pamphlets that badmouth unions in the workplace. One flyer shows a cartoon character of a union worker on a leash and another one calls union organizers "pimps."
"We shouldn't be called names. We are basically asking them to stop the anti-union activity and to stop smearing the names of the employees," said Continental Airlines fleet service worker Jorge Bonilla.
"We have a dignity and respect clause in our handbook and we're asking them to respect their own handbook," said Bonilla.
Fleet workers delivered a letter to new CEO Jeff Smisek asking him to get rid of the pamphlets.
Continental Airlines is not confirming that the anti-union material is circulating within the company and issued this statement:
"We have a solid relationship with all of our employees, both non-union and union. It is our employees' choice, not the company's, as to whether or not they want union representation. We will continue to earn our employees’ trust through open and honest communications and maintain our long-standing culture of treating each other with dignity and respect,” said Julie King, Continental Airlines spokesperson.
The demonstrators need the support of more than 50 percent of the 8,000 Continental fleet service workers to form a union. So, while some demonstrated against the alleged anti-union pamphlets others mailed out ballots and encouraged workers to vote for the union.
"Overwhelming majority of our workers have demonstrated support,” said Bonilla.
Voting for the fleet worker union opened Monday and continues through February 8.
