Continental Airlines Ground Workers File for Union Election

HOUSTON, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) announced today that it has filed union authorization cards with the federal National Mediation Board (NMB) on behalf of nearly 8,000 employees at Continental who work in fleet services performing functions such as loading baggage, handling freight and de-icing aircraft. “A binding contract seems to work for other Continental work groups and our CEO,” said Jerome Pelitera a Customer Service Agent in Austin, Texas. “If it works for virtually everyone else in the company, it can work for us.”

“These workers know firsthand what happens when you go without a contract and representation,” said TWU president James C. Little. “Over the past couple of years they’ve seen very deep cuts.” In 2005, each ground worker saw his or her pay cut by an average of nearly 10 percent, and unlike unionized workers at Continental, these unrepresented employees were not provided with “snap backs,” written guarantees that lost wages would be restored as the airline returned to profitability. The airline will report profits to shareholders today.

In the past couple of years, Continental’s ground workers’ pay dropped from the second highest in the industry to sixth. “Continental is generally a worker-friendly company,” added Little, “but without a union, the company is free to cut pay and benefits at will and staff at will, and Continental did.”

Merger fears also played a role in the decision by ground workers to unionize. “Consolidation in the airline industry is a fact of life,” Little said. “Another fact is: Anyone who doesn’t have a contract and a seat at the table during a merger or acquisition is destined to lose.” The Houston Chronicle reported on Wednesday that both Delta and United may be eyeing Continental as a merger partner.

In 2006 the union narrowly lost a representation election for Continental ground workers because of low turnout. The Railway Labor Act requires that a clear majority of eligible voters cast ballots.

Pilots, mechanics, flight attendants and dispatchers at Continental are currently represented by unions. The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) represents 200,000 workers and retirees, primarily in commercial aviation, public transportation and passenger railroads. More than half the union’s membership works for commercial airlines. The union is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.