Continental Pilots Reject Contract

Continental’s pilots union announced Friday its board has rejected a contract offer from the carrier.

Pilots had said the offer did not raise pilots’ salaries up to industry standards - a major sticking point in their five-month-long negotiations with Continental.

“I think they just reacted because it was so unacceptable,” said Independent Association of Continental Pilots spokesman Jim Moody, who announced the contract rejection.

Continental Airlines and Continental Express pilots, who are both represented by the IACP, have been negotiating with the airline since April.

There was no immediate comment from the Houston-based carrier.

The pilots want parity with pilots at major airlines and had set an Oct. 1 deadline for a final contract offer. They have been operating without a contract for three months.