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.

First, a union will have to ask the NMB to determine that the two pre-merger airlines are operating as a single carrier. This determination has nothing to do with merger approval from any other government agency, and is different from the FAA providing a single operating certificate. Some of the issues the NMB looks at when making a single carrier determination include common signage at airports, integration of websites, common uniforms, a single human resources department and combined payroll operations. These are not things that will happen in the near term, and single carrier rulings must be made for each classification. For example, if the NMB issues a ruling for pilots or any other group, it would not apply to flight attendants.

When the NMB determines that a single carrier exists for representation purposes for the flight attendant classification, a union would have 14 days from the date of the ruling to prove that they have support from at least 35% of the combined group to hold an election. A union’s pre-merger airline seniority list is automatically counted towards reaching that 35% threshold. For representational purposes, all flight attendants that are active, on leave of absence, on furlough with the right to recall or have been discharged but have a grievance pending are considered eligible voters to participate in the election and are counted toward meeting any threshold requirement.

Based on Continental and United flight attendant numbers today, there is likely to be a representation election if the merger is concluded.

You can print a REPRESENTATION flyer below.