To IAM Members at Continental Airlines:

To the surprise of no one, Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines today announced plans to merge. It is possible that some combination of Continental, United, and/or American Airlines may be prompted by today’s announcement. These airline mergers represent a threat to your wages, benefits and union representation itself.

Continental’s IAM-represented Flight Attendants are currently the highest paid in the industry. Because of strong IAM negotiators, Continental Flight Attendants are the airline’s only employee group who did not take a base wage reduction in the company’s recent restructuring. Additionally, Continental Flight Attendants have a defined benefit pension plan and negotiated the IAM National Pension Plan as a back-up plan if your company-sponsored pension is frozen or terminated. What would happen to the Continental Airlines Retirement Plan (CARP) and its lump-sum option in the event of a merger is unclear.

There is a lot at risk, but the IAM is prepared. We will oppose any merger that negatively impacts our members, passengers or the cities these airlines serve. District 142 will work with the entire IAM Transportation Department to preserve the contracts, pensions and union representation rights that you have fought so hard to achieve.