United Continental flight attendants favor AFA over IAM

The Assn. of Flight Attendants won the right to represent United Continental Holdings' 25,000 flight attendants. It said 55% of those casting ballots in a representation election favored AFA, which has represented United Airlines' cabin crew, over the International Assn. of Machinists, which represented Continental Airlines' flight attendants. The US National Mediation Board must certify the results.

UCH has said it is "on track" to achieve a single operating certificate from US FAA for the combined operations of UA and CO in the fourth quarter and expects to transition to a single reservations system in the first quarter of 2012 (ATW's Airports Today, June 5). AFA stated that "the merger brings new opportunities and the conclusion of this election sets the stage for flight attendants to unify and become full participants in the benefits of the merger."