HOUSTON – Flight attendants for Continental and United Airlines are voicing serious concerns about what the carriers’ merger might mean for them.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents thousands of Continental flight attendants. The Association of Flight Attendants represents thousands more at United.
Both unions say the merger is far from a done deal since both labor groups will need to be on board.
“Protecting jobs with the potential merger is our number one concern.” said Julie Frietchen, a Continental flight attendant who has worked in the industry for almost 20 years.
Their current contracts, however, are very different and extremely complicated. Experts say they will be very tough to reconcile as this merger moves forward.
United’s union contract poses an even bigger hurdle due to the labor group’s strained relationship with the airline’s management.
"We have had no confidence in our CEO since the year 2004," said Sara Nelson, spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents those employees at United.
She said her union’s contract has been in limbo for months.
"So as we're looking at this merger and we're looking at the extraordinary benefits for executives going forward,” she said. “(The merger) is really a non-starter until we get that new contract in place."
The merger could also cause each union to fight for its own survival. If the deal is approved, flight attendants for the combined airline would have to vote on a single union to represent them.
“There’s probably more questions than answers right now,” Frietchen said.
