Friday, July 8, 2005

At ExpressJet this week, your IAM Flight Attendant Negotiating Committee today announced a tentative agreement for new contract terms between ExpressJet Airlines and its 1,200 IAM–represented Flight Attendants.   Despite the dire condition of the entire airline industry and a coordinated attack on union-won wages and benefits, the IAM was able to achieve a total compensation package that is the best in the regional industry. The Flight Attendant Negotiating Committee unanimously recommends approval of this tentative agreement.  The four-year agreement includes up to 35 percent base wage increases as well as other compensation improvements, an enhanced 401-K plan, additional job security and scheduling improvements. Complete details are available on the District 142 website, www.iamdl142.org/fa.  Membership ratification will take place at all three bases from July 18^th through July 24^th 2005. A separate strike vote will also be conducted with the ratification vote. Specific times and locations will be posted shortly.  Each ExpressJet Flight Attendant will receive the complete text of the tentative agreement by mail and have the opportunity to attend informational meetings to have any questions answered prior to voting. Your decision should be based on the facts presented and not on rumor.  

The Continental Negotiating Committee and the Union received notification today from the National Mediation Board that Patricia Sims, Senior Mediator, has been assigned to contract negotiations.  Prior to joining the NMB, Ms Sims was President of Conflict Management Systems, where she offered mediation services, facilitation, interest based training and dispute systems design. She is a certified mediator with the Supreme Court of Virginia and received her mediation training at Harvard Law School and the Private Adjudication Center affiliated with Duke University School of Law. Ms Sims' background encompasses extensive labor-management experience derived from 12 years in the airline industry. She held full time union positions with the Association of Flight Attendants from 1989-1995.  We will advise you of the times and locations of these meetings with the mediator as soon as the arrangements have been made.  We will keep you advised of all future developments as they occur.  Thank you for your support. 

On Thursday a series of apparently coordinated terrorist blasts along the bus and train lines hit the city of London. Through our contacts in the ITF we have been advised that no inflight personnel have been identified in the blasts.  The British government had earlier sporadically shut down all air traffic into and out of London Heathrow.  It is now reported that Operations at Heathrow are running, but delays are to be expected.  The British Government is constantly assessing the threat level to determine operations into and out of the airport, as well as within the city. Public transportation has been haulted or limited in many areas.  The local government is encouraging individuals to stay at home for the time being. The national threat level has been elevated for precaution on trains and busses in the United States and some designated cities are putting raised security measures in place.  Government officials are assessing the situation and are reminding citizens to be extra aware. 

We would like to encourage all members to attend your Local Lodge business meeting. Each base must have a quorum to conduct business. The following is a schedule for upcoming meetings:  

Cleveland: Thursday, July 14, 4:00 pm at 669 North Rocky River Drive; 

Guam: Wednesday, July 20, 4:00 p.m. at the Airport Conference Room;

Houston: Wednesday, July 27, 1:00 p.m. at 15710 JFK Blvd; 

: Tuesday, July 12, 3:00 p.m. at the Wyndam Hotel.