CAL Pilots > Home

Continental pilots applaud recall of remainder of furloughed pilots - Friday, September 03, 2010

HOUSTON, TEXAS—Capt. Jay Pierce, chairman of the Continental pilots unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, welcomed the announcement by Continental Airlines that it would be recalling all of its pilots from furlough.

Continental, United Pilots Encounter Roadblock to Merger - Friday, June 25, 2010

The pilots of Continental and United, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) say they have run into a roadblock while negotiating a transition agreement with the management of United and Continental Airlines. read more ...

Statements from Capt. Jay Pierce to Congress - Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Capt. Jay Pierce's oral and written testimony to the House Aviation Subcommittee and the House Committee on the Judiciary regarding the Continental-United Merger read more ...

Statement from Capt. Jay Pierce at the Continental Airlines shareholders meeting on June 9, 2010 - Wednesday, June 09, 2010

“Good morning Mr. Smisek and members of the Continental board of directors. In my ALPA role as a leader of the Continental pilots, this is my fourth shareholders’ meeting. read more ...

Statement from Capts. Jay Pierce (Continental), Wendy Morse (United) regarding merger - Monday, May 03, 2010

"With the announcement today of an intended merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines, it is important to remember that history has demonstrated that the integration of two airlines is always a difficult challenge. The support of the pilots is pivotal in determining whether a merger is successful or not, as will be the case with this merger of Continental and United. While there is potential for this transaction to create a truly great airline, there are also risks involved. The entity being created must be stronger and more viable than the independent entities that are being merged. The futures of our pilots must also be more secure going forward- both in their careers and in retirement. We have sacrificed too much though years of concessions, furloughs, pension freezes and terminations to accept unwarranted risk, and any risk requires reward. read more ...

Continental Pilots Post Billboard in Support of Contract Negotiations - Thursday, April 08, 2010

Continental pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) have posted a billboard in Houston, Texas, near Bush Intercontinental Airport in support of their ongoing negotiations for a new contract. The board reads, “Continental can’t fly without us. Continental pilots.”
“The message is a reminder to Continental management of the essential role of pilots in the airline’s operations,” said Capt. Jay Pierce, chairman of the unit of ALPA for Continental pilots. “As we progress in our negotiations for a new contract, pilots must be factored into any business equation for Continental’s future – whether that is new joint ventures, alliances or any other business arrangement management wants to use. Our pilots and their families have sacrificed with concessions and diminished working conditions to the tune of over $200 million per year since 2005 to secure Continental’s future. It’s time for management to account for the true value of pilots when they move forward with their business plan.” read more ...

Continental Pilots Support Application for Flying to Tokyo's Haneda Airport - Tuesday, March 02, 2010

The Continental Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), are offering their full support of Continental’s application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for new service between the U.S. and Tokyo’s close-in airport, Haneda. read more ...

Continental Pilots Show Support for Striking Lufthansa Pilots - Monday, February 22, 2010

Continental pilots Capt. Brian Bagenski, F/O Doug Marotta and Capt. Marty Miller traveled to Germany this week to show support for striking Vereinigung Cockpit pilots who fly for Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings. After arriving in Frankfurt, they joined the 400-plus German pilots in marching to the Lufthansa Aviation Center for picketing. Said Capt. Bagenski, “The pilots were very appreciative of the support shown them from the ALPA pilots who were there from Continental and United. The problems they are facing - among them threats to their jobs from outsourcing and pay erosion – are the same that ALPA pilots are fighting as well.” read more ...

Continental Pilots Congratulate Ramp Workers - Friday, February 12, 2010

“We congratulate the baggage handlers, cargo workers and other ramp agents on their successful union representation election by the Teamsters,” said Capt. Jay Pierce, chairman of the chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association Int’l (ALPA), the union representing Continental Airlines pilots. “They’ve waged a hard fought battle for representation for many years. We welcome them to the ranks of union employees at Continental, wish them much success at the bargaining table and look forward to working with them on mutual areas of interest.”

Continental Pilots Respond to Release of Continental Airlines’ 2009, Q4 Financial Results - Thursday, January 21, 2010

The Continental Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have responded to Continental Airlines’ release of its 2009 full-year and fourth-quarter results. read more ...

Continental Pilots Chairman's Statement Regarding Executive Pay - Tuesday, January 05, 2010

"Yesterday, Continental reported that new CEO Jeffery Smisek won’t accept his full year salary of $750,000 until the Company makes a full year profit. We were told that the reason behind this is Mr. Smisek’s belief that employees need to focus on making money before expecting pay and benefit increases. We further learned that Mr. Smisek’s sacrifice was his way of demonstrating that the tone for any business is set at the top. This step, although perhaps better than no step at all, falls far short of rectifying the problem of executive compensation at Continental and across corporate America, revealed most acutely in the banking industry collapse of last year..." read more ...

Continental Pilots Mark Anniversary of Contract Amendable Date without a New Contract - Monday, December 28, 2009

On Dec. 31, 2009, Continental pilots will see another year pass without a new contract in place. The current concessionary agreement that helped keep Continental out of bankruptcy was signed in April 2005 and became amendable on Dec. 31, 2008. However, the Continental pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association Int’l (ALPA), have been negotiating a successor agreement since July 2007, when the union and Continental management agreed to open discussions early. Since that time, the parties have reached tentative agreements on only nine of 32 sections of the contract. Most recently, the union presented a comprehensive proposal to management on Dec. 9, 2009, bringing all remaining sections of the contract to the table, most notably those dealing with economic issues such as pay, work rules and benefits. read more ...