Local News in Brief : Flight Attendants for Continental Picket

Continental Airlines flight attendants conducted informational picketing Thursday at Los Angeles International Airport and Newark Airport in New Jersey, announcing that they might strike at Christmas time because of a contract dispute with the company.

A spokeswoman for the Union of Flight Attendants, which represents 7,000 Continental attendants, said the workers have not had a pay raise in 4 1/2 years. “Continental employees are understaffed, underpaid and endure onerous working conditions,” said Judy Schaezler of the union.

In July, 81% of the members casting ballots rejected Continental’s contract offer.

David Messing, a Continental spokesman, acknowledged that the workers have had not had a pay increase since 1983, when the company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and abrogated its labor agreements. But he said the company’s new offer, made in October, contains pay and benefit increases that will be implemented Jan. 1, regardless of the union’s opposition.