Friday, June 17, 2005

Delegates from the Continental 2339 Locals including members from Continental, Continental Micronesia and ExpressJet, attended the IAM Transportation Conference in New York City this week.  The conference is held by the Transportation Department of the IAM and includes delegates from Local Lodges servicing transportation workers including airline and railroad members.  The focus of this year’s conference was organizing and the eroding of pension benefits at represented carriers.  A commitment was made to work to replace failed single employer pension plans with the IAM sponsored National Pension Plan, a multi employer plan.  Additionally, a committee was formed to organize a March on Washington in 2007 involving 100,000 workers to draw support for American workers.  Local and National politicians as well as representatives from the Legal Department and the Executive Council attended and spoke at the conference which highlighted the dismal record the administration has regarding worker rights and interests in this country.  More information on the conference can be found at www.goiam.org.         

A federal bankruptcy court denied a motion by United Airlines flight attendants that would have preserved their pension plan. The union said it will appeal the ruling. United said it hopes to work with the union to craft a replacement for the terminated plan. 

Northwest raised business fares last week by $50 one way. Continental, United and US Airways matched the fare increase, but American and Delta did not. Northwest, Continental and the other airlines reduced fares to their previous levels on Sunday to remain competitive. 

Continental will double the number of first class seats on its Boeing 757-300 aircraft in response to a high demand for first class service. Continental is expanding the Boeing 757-300 fleet from nine to seventeen aircraft.  Continental’s 757-300s are currently equipped with 12 first class and 210 coach class seats. With the seat reconfiguration, the aircraft will have 24 seats in first class and 192 in coach. The first of the reconfigured aircraft is scheduled to be completed this summer, with the remainder to be completed by early 2006. 

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Northwest Airlines could file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy by the end of 2005.  The story said that Northwest, like other legacy carriers, is being hurt by weak pricing, high fuel prices and the rapid growth of discount airlines.  In another story, The Detroit Free Press reported Monday that Northwest will begin charging employees, retirees and dependents $50 per person to participate in its pass travel program. The airline will cap the annual pass travel fee at $200 per family. 

Crude oil hit a record $58.60 per barrel Friday during trade on the New York Mercantile Exchange and settled at an all-time high of $58.47, $1.20 above the previous record of $57.27. Nymex oil futures are more than 50 percent higher than at this time last year.  Continental’s jet fuel costs also have increased more than $2 per barrel since Monday, ending the week at $68.46 per barrel.  

The business meeting has been changed to June 21 and the Guam business meeting has been changed to June 22 so that delegates may attend the IAM Transportation Conference being held the week of June 13, 2005 in New York City.  The change in has resulted in a change of location for the month of June also.  The meeting will be held at the Airport Hilton. 

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:  

Cleveland: Thursday, July 14, 4:00 pm at 669 North Rocky River Drive;

Guam: Wednesday, June 22, 4:00 p.m. at the Airport Conference Room;

Houston: Wednesday, June 22, 1:00 p.m. at 15710 JFK Blvd;

: Tuesday, June 21, 3:00 p.m. at the Airport Hilton Hotel.