IAM / CONTINENTAL FLIGHT ATTENDANT PENSION VOTE – February 15, 2007 - The amendment to the Agreement has been rejected by a majority of the voting membership.  We would like to thank those who took the time to participate in this ratification process.  Sincerely and fraternally, Tom Higginbotham - President-Directing General Chairperson, IAM District 142.

ExpressJet Corporate Charter Negotiations – February 14, 2007 – Flight Attendant negotiating committee members from IAH, EWR and CLE met with XJT management negotiators for three days, January 29, 30 & 31, 2007.  At the end of these meetings the Company’s pay proposals remain identical to their very first pay proposal back in October 2006 when XJT Corporate Charter Negotiations first began. The Company has steadfastly refused to increase the Corporate Charter override pay you are currently receiving by even one penny.  A short list of the XJT’s current Flight Attendant demands includes:

-16-hour duty days either flying, reserve, or both.
- Maximum monthly flight or duty pay - 90 hours.
- 5.5 hours daily pay maximum - greater flight/on-duty hours don’t matter.
- A laundry list of additional flight attendant duties (more can be added later).
- No guaranteed or immovable days off - subject to constant call.

In view of the Company’s continuing refusal to increase our charter override pay, we cannot agree to these onerous Company demands without adequate compensation for the pay and lifestyle sacrifices that we and our families will be forced to make.  You will be advised of any further developments as they occur.  Thank you for your patience and support.  Sincerely and fraternally, Art Teolis, Julie Frietchen & Brian Wozniak, General Chairpersons, and Charles Douglas (EWR), Nichole Washington (CLE) & Kate Romanausky (IAH), Negotiating Committee.

House Democrats introduced the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800) last week, making good on their pledge to introduce legislation aimed at improving the lives of working families.  Just two days after House lawmakers introduced the Employee Free Choice Act, (EFCA) the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions held a hearing examining the legislation. The hearing focused on the benefits of the EFCA, which would enable workers to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions by restoring their rights to form unions.  Under current law, even if a majority of workers asks for union representation, the company can still seek a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) secret ballot election and use the delay to fire, threaten and coerce employees in efforts to keep their workers unorganized.  The EFCA would establish stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes and allow employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation.   “Coercive employers determined to obstruct any effort to allow workers to organize have eroded the basic underpinnings of middle class life: decent wages and benefits,” said the committee’s chairman, Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ).

ExpressJet has announced that it will launch branded service using 50-seat regional jets.  Less than 20% of the company's fleet will be dedicated to independent flying, and it will continue operating flights for Continental Airlines, executives say.   In conjunction with this new service, ExpressJet Inflight Management has announced that they will be opening a new domicile in Ontario, California (ONT), effective April 1^st, 2007.  There will be approximately 125 vacancies for the ONT base.  For more information on the new base opening and how to submit a transfer request, refer to CIL # 07-08.  The deadline for submitting a transfer request is March 1st, 2007.

In conjunction with the ONT base opening for ExpressJet, IAM EWR Base Representative Edward Scott has been compiling information on housing and transportation in the Ontario, California, area.  Anyone interested in this information can contact him at 862-755-1908 or by e-mail at coexfa61@aol.com.