IAM Backs Stronger FMLA Protections – In a strongly worded letter to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the IAM voiced support for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and declared its opposition to any attempt to weaken the landmark legislation.  “The IAM strongly opposes changes that would curtail existing rights under the FMLA, and we support regulations that will ensure workers can take full advantage of their FMLA protections,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger in a letter to Richard M. Brennan, the Senior Regulatory Officer of the Wage and Hour Division of the DOL.  The AFL-CIO also submitted remarks in support of the FMLA.  “The FMLA has been largely successful at helping IAM-represented employees take care of their family’s and their own health while at the same time ensuring they can remain productive employees,” said Buffenbarger, who also expressed concerns over convoluted rules and complicated paperwork that prevents workers from getting the lawful leave they are entitled to.  “The Department of Labor should require employers to take steps to provide workers with adequate information regarding their rights and responsibilities under the FMLA,” said Buffenbarger. “Particularly, employees should be expressly notified of their right to take intermittent leave.”  In addition to traditional leave, current FMLA regulations allow for intermittent leave, which ensures that employees can take a few hours or a few days to attend to their own serious medical condition or that of a family member.  The FMLA allows employees to balance their work and family life by taking unpaid leave for medical reasons, for the birth or adoption of a child or the care of a child, spouse or parent who has a serious health condition.

IAM District Lodge 142 Announces Scholarship Competition – The 2007 District Lodge 142 Scholarship Program will be an essay competition open to all members in good standing, as well as their legal children who are 2007 graduating high school seniors.  The winners of the competition will receive scholarship tuition of $1,000.00, to be paid directly to the college or accredited institution of higher learning.   To apply for the competition, a fully completed application form together with an essay must be sent by U.S. Mail to the District Office and postmarked no later than midnight, April 30^th, 2007.  Winners will be announced on June 30^th, 2007.  Application forms and specific rules and regulations are available through your Local Lodge.  Additionally, the General Chairperson assigned to your base can provide answers to any other inquiries concerning the entire program.  Good Luck to all entrants!

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 1^st, 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.

We would like to advise any former PAN-AM Flight Attendants that the I.U.F.A. Trust Distribution has concluded it’s participation in the PAN-AM bankruptcy and the trustee now plans to distribute the trust funds to former I.U.F.A. members and terminate the trust.  If you were a former dues-paying member between November 1^st, 1985, and December 1^st, 1991, you are entitled to a share of this trust.  You can contact the trust toll free at 866-239-1499 or through their web page at www.iufatrustdistribution.com to determine your eligibility.