The AFA-CWA today asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) to rule that United and Continental are now a single carrier for Flight Attendant representation purpose. This is the first step in holding representation elections.

The IAM does not believe Continental and United currently meet the criteria for a single carrier ruling from the NMB for the Flight Attendant classification. In addition, we believe that Flight Attendants from both airlines should have the time needed to learn about both unions so they can make an informed choice when representation elections take place. To that end, the IAM will be hosting more than 100 United and Continental Flight Attendants next week at our Education and Technology Center in Maryland so they can learn more about the IAM and the industry-leading contracts we negotiate for Flight Attendants.

If a merger is completed, one issue that will be addressed is which union, if any, will represent flight attendants at the combined airline. The National Mediation Board (NMB), the government agency responsible for conducting airline union representation elections, has procedures to resolve representation disputes in airline mergers. Ultimately, flight attendant union representation will be determined by a vote of flight attendants.