Nov. 18, 2005, 12:17PM
Continental, flight attendants remain at odds
By BILL HENSEL JR.
2005 Houston Chronicle
No agreement was reached between Continental Airlines and its flight attendants' union as a result of renewed talks this week, the carrier said today.
The impasse remained after three days of negotiations between Continental management and the International Association of Machinists in Washington.
The talks are being overseen by the National Mediation Board.
"The issues have been narrowed to a remaining few items," Continental said in a prepared statement.
A Continental spokesman declined to outline what the remaining items are.
Union officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
What Continental called a "final bargaining session" has been scheduled for Dec. 7 and 8.
"If no agreement is reached on those dates, the . . . (National Mediation Board) has stated that it will consider releasing the parties from mediation into a 30-day cooling off period," Continental said in its statement. "At the end of that period, the company would be able to implement needed wage and benefit reductions, and the flight attendants would be able to strike."
The Houston airline announced last November that it needed $500 million in wage and benefit concessions from its employees. Although most employee groups agreed to proposed cuts, the flight attendants voted against the tentative agreement that leaders of its union approved.
The carrier has maintained that while the $418 million in cuts from pilots, mechanics and other employees have helped, it still needs concessions from the flight attendants.
Continental, flight attendants remain at odds
By BILL HENSEL JR.
2005 Houston Chronicle
No agreement was reached between Continental Airlines and its flight attendants' union as a result of renewed talks this week, the carrier said today.
The impasse remained after three days of negotiations between Continental management and the International Association of Machinists in Washington.
The talks are being overseen by the National Mediation Board.
"The issues have been narrowed to a remaining few items," Continental said in a prepared statement.
A Continental spokesman declined to outline what the remaining items are.
Union officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
What Continental called a "final bargaining session" has been scheduled for Dec. 7 and 8.
"If no agreement is reached on those dates, the . . . (National Mediation Board) has stated that it will consider releasing the parties from mediation into a 30-day cooling off period," Continental said in its statement. "At the end of that period, the company would be able to implement needed wage and benefit reductions, and the flight attendants would be able to strike."
The Houston airline announced last November that it needed $500 million in wage and benefit concessions from its employees. Although most employee groups agreed to proposed cuts, the flight attendants voted against the tentative agreement that leaders of its union approved.
The carrier has maintained that while the $418 million in cuts from pilots, mechanics and other employees have helped, it still needs concessions from the flight attendants.
