Labor unions were quick to react to the announcement of a
proposed merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines that would
leap above the recently merged Delta-Northwest combo to create the world’s
largest airline.
First to respond was IAM Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr., who declared that, “A Continental/United combination must have what many past mergers failed to achieve: broad employee support. The Machinists will work closely with members of Congress and the Departments of Transportation and Justice to ensure that if a merger is approved, it will not be at the expense of workers at either carrier.”
Click here to view an IAM video about the proposed United Airline-Continental merger.
The IAM represents 16,000 United Airlines employees in Ramp, Stores, Public Contact, Fleet Technical Instructor, Maintenance Instructor, Security Guard and Food Service classifications and another 76 employees at Mileage Plus, Inc. The IAM also represents Continental Airlines’ 9,500 Flight Attendants as well as 250 Flight Attendants at Continental’s wholly-owned subsidiary Continental Micronesia and 1,200 Flight Attendants at Continental and United’s regional partner, ExpressJet Airlines.
While the announcement of the merger agreement generated immediate and intense news coverage, the reality is that airline mergers are slow moving creatures. “It is important to understand that this announcement is the first step in what could be a lengthy process before any operational merger is complete,” said District 141 President Rich Delaney. “Both corporations’ shareholders must approve this transaction and then it must undergo review and scrutiny by both the Department of Transportation and the Dept. of Justice before it can become a reality.”
"Protecting the superior wages, pensions and job security the IAM negotiated for Continental Flight Attendants is a Machinists union priority, said District 142 President Tom Higginbotham. “How a merger would affect Continental Micronesia and ExpressJet Flight Attendants is also a serious concern."
The IAM’s Transportation Merger Team has been evaluating a possible United-Continental pairing since United Airlines exited bankruptcy in 2006. Among the specific concerns are the impact of such a merger on the pensions, benefits, seniority and job security of employees at both carriers.
“With more than 26,000 Machinists union members at both carriers, one way to avoid some of the mistakes of past airline mergers is to include the IAM very early in the process,” said Roach.The latest information about the announced United/Continental merger is available at www.goiam.org/mergers.
