Letter from John Tague to all Employees
Dear fellow employee,
I want to follow up on my communications to you on the importance of alliances and anti-trust immunity for our company. As I discussed last week, there are divergent views on the benefits of alliances. Many of our own labor groups either support or do not oppose our efforts. Within ALPA itself, there are also diverging views. As I mentioned in my letter to you, Continental’s Master Executive Council supports our anti-trust immunity application and has sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging approval.
Their letter, pasted below, urges Congress to reconsider a provision proposed by Rep. James Oberstar that would require airlines that are already a part of immunized alliances to reapply for anti-trust immunity every three years. As Capt. Jay Pierce notes in his letter, “ATI is a cornerstone of Continental’s international business plan as well as the plans of other U.S. carriers. The result of repealing ATI would mean less, not more U.S. carrier flying - with a resultant decline in employment, financial stability and consumer benefit. Especially in this economy, jobs would be at risk.”
We could not agree more. As I said last week, alliances benefit our people and our customers by providing jobs, destinations and opportunities we would not otherwise have. To suggest otherwise ignores the facts and potentially undermines our competitive position.
Having Continental join our immunized alliance is about protecting jobs — United jobs.
John
Oberstar - ATI Letter 5/22/2009