The Update Message from the International Association of Machinists representing Continental, ExpressJet and
Continental Micronesia
Flight Attendants in the 2339 Local Lodges

Friday, August 4, 2006

ExpressJet Flight Attendants continue ratification voting on their new tentative agreement through August 9th. Voting is taking place in each domicile and you can vote at any location. Each ExpressJet Flight Attendant should have received the complete text of the tentative agreement by mail. You will have the opportunity to attend an informational meeting to have any questions answered prior to voting. Highlights of the agreement can be accessed through the link below. Details of the times and locations of the ratification voting are included in the mailing. You can also access this information on the District Lodge 142 web site at www.IAMDL142.org/. Your IAM Flight Attendant Negotiating Committee unanimously recommends approval of this tentative agreement. Thank you for your continued solidarity and support.

To see a summary of the ExpressJet Tentative Agreement Highlights, please click here.

The Union has filed a general grievance on behalf of the Flight Attendants at Continental Airlines regarding the disciplinary actions in progress involving the EEMK. District 142 will be processing the grievance and we will update you with information as it becomes available. If you are assessed any discipline in relation to the EEMK, please notify your Local Lodge Base Chairperson.

The FAA recently released a long-awaited study on the affects of “Fatigue” on airline flight crews. Members from several flight attendant unions, including members representing the IAM 2339 Local Lodges, participated in a “Sleep-In” in June, to put pressure on the agency to release the findings. On July 7th, the FAA finally released the report to the public. The report includes information on how flight crews are affected by cabin ventilation, cabin air quality, respiratory symptoms, adverse reproductive health effects, cancer mortality and incidence and, factors related to job stress among flight attendants. To read the entire study, click here.

ITF Delegates Debate Global Organizing - Canadian GVP Dave Ritchie and leaders from two key IAM departments, Transportation and Trade & Globalization, are meeting this week with their counterparts at the 41st Congress of International Trade Federation (ITF) in Durban, South Africa. The week-long conference brings together more than 1,100 participants from 387 unions in 111 countries to set the agenda for the global labor organization. The theme of the first ITF conference ever held in South Africa is Organizing Globally: Fighting for our Rights. Delegates will also elect the ITF’s President, Vice-Presidents, General Secretary and Executive Board. “(The) Congress provides a direction for the efforts of countless transport worker activists working in a globalized economy that can’t exist without the transport links they provide,” said ITF General Secretary David Cockroft. “This gives us massive potential for change that can only be achieved when transport unions worldwide link together.”

Continental Converts Existing 737 Orders To New 737-900ER - Continental Airlines announced that it has converted 12 existing firm orders for Boeing 737 aircraft, scheduled for delivery in 2008, into 12 new Boeing 737-900ERs. The new 737-900ERs are also expected to be delivered in 2008. Continental is the first U.S. carrier to order the extended-range twinjet that flies about 500 nautical miles farther than the existing 737-900. “These new aircraft will have among the lowest operating costs in our fleet, allowing us to serve high demand markets more efficiently,” said CEO Larry Kellner. He added, “The new aircraft are part of our continued focus on fleet modernization, fuel efficiency and delivering the best product in the business.”

Northwest Flight Attendants Reject Contract; Union Mulls Strike - Flight attendants at Northwest Airlines rejected a concessionary contract Monday for the second time. Northwest on Monday began implementing the terms of the contract the workers rejected in June. The union representing the flight attendants said it is considering calling for a strike or other job action. Northwest says it will ask a bankruptcy judge to prevent the union from striking.

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:

:       Tuesday, August 8th, 3:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel.

Cleveland:  Thursday, August 10th, 4:00 p.m. at 669 North Rocky River Drive.

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

Houston:     Wednesday, August 23rd, 1:00 p.m. at 15710 JFK Blvd.