Flight Attendants End 5-Day Strike at Continental Airlines

The Union of Flight Attendants on Friday called off its five-day strike against Frank Lorenzo’s Continental Airlines but refused to admit that the walkout had little impact on the carrier.

The union, which claimed 1,200 attendants walked off the job, said it disrupted Continental’s flight schedule throughout the job action.

But Continental reported only a handful of flight delays and put the number of strikers at about 200 out of 6,500 flight attendants.

‘No Vacancies’

“The strike had very limited participation and apparently didn’t achieve anything,” said Continental spokesman David Messing. “It’s still a mystery why it was even attempted in the first place. There was not one single flight cancellation because of union activities and no significant delays.”

Union officials refused to concede defeat in announcing an end to the job action.

“I realize Continental has been publicizing there were no delays or cancellations, but we had people who were documenting delayed flights and cancellations,” said union spokeswoman Myra Clayton. “Over 1,200 flight attendants did not report to work or got off flights, so it’s a little hard to believe there was no disruption of service.”

UFA advised its members to inform Continental’s manager of in-flight administration that they were off strike and available for work assignments.

But Continental said the strikers had been permanently replaced and would be allowed back at work only if and when new positions became available.

“As of right now, we have no vacancies available for those flight attendants who chose to go out on strike, so they will not be returning to work,” said Robert Allen, a Continental senior vice president.

UFA spokesman Charles Sampson said flight attendants were willing to take a chance on losing their jobs to improve conditions at Continental.

“It hurts, but you have to take a stand if you believe in your cause,” he said. “We have to do everything that we can.”

The union said its short-lived strike also accomplished the objective of publicizing the flight attendants’ poor working conditions. Continental flight attendants have worked more than five years with no contract.

But Messing said publicity over the walkout did not significantly tarnish Continental’s image with the traveling public.

“Our assessment is that our relationship with the consumer was not materially affected, chiefly because we did show the ability to maintain 100% of our operations on time without a cancellation, and that’s what the consumer wants,” he said.

Sampson disagreed.

“This strike has shown that Frank Lorenzo is one of the worst managers in the business,” Sampson said. “Why is it that carriers that pay decent wages and treat employees fairly are able to earn large profits and make money? The answer is Frank Lorenzo and his disdain for his employees and unions.”

UFA claims that its members are paid up to 60% less than their counterparts at other airlines, and the union wants a contract that includes job security, improvements in grievance procedure and work rules.

STRIKE: DISPUTED EFFECT

The Union of Flight Attendants claimed that 1,200 members at Continental Airlines walked off the job and disrupted the air carrier’s flight schedule.

Continental reported only a handful of flight delays and put the number of strikers at about 200 out of 6,500 flight attendants.

The union said the strike publicized flight attendants’ poor working conditions. “This strike has shown that Frank Lorenzo is one of the worst managers in the business,” a spokesperson said.

- The company said publicity over the walkout did not significantly tarnish Continental’s image. “We did show the ability to maintain 100% of our operations on time . . . and that’s what the consumer wants,” a spokesperson said.