Continental Airlines’ Offer Rejected by Pilots

Continental Airlines Inc.’s pilots union board voted against the latest contract offer from the company, a spokesman for the Independent Assn. of Continental Pilots said. The vote against the contract follows an informal Wednesday deadline for wrapping up negotiations and a threat by the union to ask its members for strike authority. The union said it won’t ask members for strike authorization until after Nov. 1, allowing talks with the Houston-based airline and the National Mediation Board to continue. “The board got the offer and found it so far below what they felt is necessary that they just reacted immediately,” said James Moody, a spokesman for the pilots’ group. Continental is ready to continue the talks Monday under a new framework being set up by the mediation board, company spokesman Ned Walker said.