Airline Workers Skeptical Of United-Continental Merger

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Area airline workers were among those keeping a close eye on Congressional hearings that began yesterday on the proposed merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines. "The IAM is concerned that the new entity may be too big to succeed," International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' (IAM) General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. testified. "Failure of such a large entity could be disastrous to employees, the industry and the national economy." The hearings continue today; IAM Local 1759 - whose members work at several major airlines, including United - is tracking the hearings here. 
- Jasmine Butler, AFL-CIO Union Summer intern; photo courtesy George Frey/Getty Images