United Airlines offers voluntary buyouts for flight attendants

United Airlines, which employs 23,000 flight attendants, plans to offer flight attendants and “early-out program” that will give employees the option to voluntarily leave the company and receive a severance payment. United will also recall all flight attendants on voluntary or involuntary furlough. The airline, which merged with Continental Airlines in 2010, has struggled with merging the union contracts for premerger Continental and United flight attendants. Those who apply for a buyout could earn up to $100,000 in severance pay that will be based on seniority. United did not immediately say how many buyouts it will offer.