The Update Message from the International
Association of Machinists representing Continental,
ExpressJet and
Continental Micronesia
Flight Attendants in the 2339 Local Lodges
Friday, February 24, 2006
Continental Micronesia Negotiations continued
in Honolulu, Hawaii, during the week of February 20th,
2006. The Company remains adamant in its demand for $3.9
million in annual Flight Attendant cost reductions. Their
position is that the demand is consistent with the cost
savings achieved at Continental Airlines. The Union’s
position with this demand is that the current rates of pay
cannot be reduced. The Company must be creative in reducing
costs by some other means. Significant progress was made on
the Union proposals submitted. Negotiations are continuing
and we will update you with information as it becomes
available. Your Negotiating Committee wants to thank you
for your support and solidarity, which will insure a
successful conclusion to these negotiations.
ExpressJet
Negotiations will
resume on
March 6th & 7th, in Washington, D.C.,
at the offices of the National Mediation Board. Both the
IAM Negotiations Committee and ExpressJet Management have
agreed to meet separately with the Mediator on the 6th
to illuminate their issues and positions in an effort to
reach a new tentative agreement. We will update you with
any new developments as they occur.
Continental Airlines President Jeff
Smisek on Thursday said the airline will boost
capacity in the U.S. and International markets during 2006.
Speaking before investor groups,
Smisek said the move is in
response to discount carriers’ increased presence in
Continental’s hub markets. “We will not let any of our
competitors take our customers on price,” he added. Smisek
also ended speculation that the airline could consider a
merger, stating, “We have a very strong preference at
Continental to remain independent.”
Recently,
at union meetings this month,
some
flight attendants asked questions regarding the ratification
vote for the Continental/IAM contract. Therefore, in order
to reach as many members as possible, the following is a
sample of some of the questions being asked, accompanied by
accurate answers from your Union. We urge you to contact
your IAM representatives if you have any other questions or
concerns.
Question:
Continental Airlines was allowed to campaign for its desired
outcome of the vote both during the mediation process and
the ratification process.
Answer:
The Union cannot control the actions of
management at Continental, except when the company violates
the law, the terms of the contract or unfairly issues
discipline to our members. Supervisors, who expressed to
flight attendants their desire for a positive vote, were not
breaking the law or the contract.
Question:
Members
were denied the right to vote and there were only 10 days
allowed for voting.
Answer:
The ratification process took place over a 12
day period. Voting was conducted at each base, every day
from January 18, 2006 through and including January 29, 2006
from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Flight Attendants were allowed
to vote at any base. If there was a question about the
eligibility of any member to vote, they were allowed to vote
and their ballot was impounded and the Tellers of the Local
Lodge made a determination as to whether that member was
eligible. The District Lodge 142 Trustees also verified
eligibility.
Question:
The recent ratification of the TA did not
conform to the Landrum-Griffith Act, also known as LMDRA.
Answer:
The Union and its’ representatives conducted
the ratification by following all Federally mandated
guidelines as well as the IAM Constitution and District 142
bylaws.
Question:
Polling
stations did not have envelopes for the ballots.
Answer:
Envelopes were not required for in-base
ballots as members voting placed their own ballot in the
locked ballot box. Envelopes for out-of-base voters
were available at all polling stations
throughout the ratification process.
Question:
Probationary Flight Attendants were allowed to vote.
Answer:
Probationary members are entitled to all
privileges and benefits of the contract once they enter the
workforce with the one exception that if they receive
discipline during their probationary period, the discipline
may not be grieved by the Union. Upon paying their
initiation fee (either through payroll deduction or at the
polling site) probationary flight attendants are members of
this Union and are entitled to vote.
Question:
Union
officials were at the polling stations telling members how
to vote.
Answer:
Article XIII of District 142 bylaws states
“All
locals shall receive a minimum of five (5) days notice of a
meeting to be called for the purpose of ratifying a
contract.
Voting shall be conducted by secret ballot. In addition,
the President/Directing General Chairperson and/or his
designated representative shall be present at each
ratification meeting to explain and advise the membership
of the Negotiating Committee's recommendation to accept or
reject before the polls are open for voting.
Immediately following the vote, the local lodge tellers will
tally the vote and forward tally and votes to the District.”
Question:
Road Show
meetings to discuss the Tentative Agreement were not
provided by the Union.
Answer:
Explanations of the TA were provided at all
bases throughout the mediation and ratification process and
District 142 General Chairpersons were available at the
polling stations in each base for any questions the members
may have had, prior to voting.
Question:
Officials
were opening the ballot boxes each evening and counting
votes.
Answer:
Ballot boxes were opened each evening by the
Local Lodge Recording Secretary and witnessed by the Tellers
for the purpose of sealing the day’s ballots in an
envelope. Ballots were then deposited in the hotel safe
where they remained until the final evening of voting and
the polls had officially closed. Then, all the ballots were
counted and tallied, witnessed by members who were present
to observe the count.
Question:
The
Company knew the results of the vote prior to members
receiving the information.
Answer:
The
process provided for secret balloting, however many flight
attendants were present to observe the vote count, and some
of them chose to let others know how they viewed the outcome
of the vote. The Union can’t prevent them from sharing
their observations.
Northwest Airlines has not reached contract
agreements
with its pilots and flight attendant unions, however a
federal bankruptcy judge may decide today if the carrier can
reject the contracts. The unions said the talks may
continue Friday.
Mesaba
Airlines is asking a bankruptcy judge
to allow it to reject some labor contracts. The airline, a
Northwest Airlines regional carrier, wants to cut labor
costs so it can better compete with other regional carriers.
Delta
Airlines’ Comair unit wants to void its contract with its
Flight Attendants.
Delta, in a court filing earlier this week, also said Comair
lost $120 million in 2005.
American
Airlines will face higher costs this year
related to employee medical benefits, airport fees, and
costs associated with debt. Officials said the company’s
cost advantage is declining because its rivals are
restructuring in bankruptcy court. The airline plans to
boost revenue and has identified $700 million in costs it
aims to cut this year.
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, March 14th, 3:00 p.m. at the
Doubletree Hotel.
Cleveland: Thursday, March 9th, 4:00 p.m.
at 669 North Rocky River Drive.
Guam: Wednesday, March 15th, 4:00 p.m. at
the Airport Conference Room.
Houston: Wednesday, March 22nd, 1:00 p.m.
at 15710 JFK Blvd.
