May 17^th, 2007 – The IAM today led transportation workers from more than a dozen unions in a massive rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to declare “Enough is Enough” over Bush administration policies that have plagued air and rail workers since 2001.  “This nation’s air and rail workers suffered one grievous assault after another under the present administration,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger.  “Hundreds of thousands of workers lost jobs, pensions and health care while CEO’s and senior executives gorged themselves with outrageous compensation packages.  It’s time for a president who isn’t deaf and blind to this kind of rampant injustice.”  Presidential candidates Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) spoke to the workers who came from as far as Guam, Alaska and Hawaii to attend the rally.  Additional speakers included Rich Trumka, AFL–CIO Secretary-Treasurer, and lawmakers Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), Rep. George Miller (D-CA), (D-MN), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Former Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI).  “The sacrifices, contributions and needs of transportation workers are lost on the Bush Administration,” said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr.  “Today we begin our search for a president who will work with transportation labor to provide the secure jobs, pensions and benefits our members deserve.”

Continental Moving To Boston’s Logan Terminal A – Continental, which now uses five gates in Terminal C, has agreed to move by November 1^st to six gates in the $500 million Delta Air Lines terminal, which opened in March 2005.  Directors of the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Logan, approved the move yesterday.  Continental spokesman Dave Messing said, "We think our customers will enjoy the more modern facilities offered in Terminal A, plus it has the advantage of being closest to the airport entrance."  Continental is a partner with Delta in SkyTeam, an affiliation of airlines that share frequent-flyer miles, airport lounges, and ticket reservation systems.

Continental Graduates New Flight Attendants – Continental Airlines graduated 30 new Flight Attendants on Thursday, May 17^th.  All 30 Flight Attendants will be based in EWR.

Northwest Entertained Mergers, Faces Union Criticism – An investigator's report released on Thursday said Northwest Airlines made reasonable efforts to entertain merger possibilities in 2006.  Separately, the airline's reorganization plan drew opposition from labor unions on Thursday. The unions argued at a hearing against the level of executive compensation.  Despite this opposition, today Northwest received approval to exit bankruptcy May 31^st, 2007.  It comes more than 20 months after Northwest entered Chapter 11 protection during which it severely cut wages and almost 3,000 jobs.

DOT Approves U.S. Service for Virgin America – After concluding a stormy 18-month review of the airline's ties to British entrepreneur Richard Branson, the Department of Transportation said that Virgin America Airlines can begin service once it receives necessary safety clearances.  Service is expected to start this summer with flights from San Francisco to JFK.  A story from Reuters said, “The decision concludes a stormy government review of whether the company, a low-cost start-up with ties to British entrepreneur Richard Branson, satisfies U.S. airline ownership and economic fitness requirements.”

Guam:          Wednesday, May 16^th, 4:00 p.m. at the Airport Conference Room.