The flight attendants union of United Airlines asked a federal labor board to make up the stage for a vote on which labor group will represent the twenty four thousand three hundred attendants at the newly created parent company of Continental and United airlines.

The Association of Flight Attendants filed its application today with the National Mediation Board.

Today’s request is the first ever done by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA representing workers at the two companies, which merged on Oct. 1 to form United Continental Holdings Inc. The National Mediation Board has to declare the airlines a single carrier before election on union representation for the combined workforce.

The filing boosts up a conflict between the AFA, which represents United’s fifteen thousand attendants, and the Machinists, which represent nine thousand three hundred Continental workers. The AFA in last year stated that the Machinists rejected requests to work in unison on contract talks at each carrier, for securing greater benefits. The two flight attendants' unions haven't been unified.

In the last summer, the united union asked its Continental counterpart to talk jointly with the airlines for a new collective bargaining agreement. According to United flight attendants the move was an unconventional one but it was a way to get the best benefits for their members.

Management should be aware that the workforce of flight attendant is unified, and the association expects the best flight attendant contract, stated Greg David witch, who heads the Association of Flight Attendants at United.

Sara Nelson AFA international vice president stated in a conference call that flight attendants failed to capitalize on the incredible opportunities that are available in this merger. She further stated that the issue of representation is hindering and for that they don’t want to wait another day.