The Update Message from the International Association of
Machinists representing Continental, ExpressJet and
Continental
Micronesia Flight Attendants in the 2339 Local Lodges
Friday, June 3, 2005
The Union has mailed out
an issue card regarding securing of pension benefits in
the current round of negotiations. It will be posted on
the IAM web site also at
www.iamdl142.org.
As we previously advised,
negotiations have been suspended and will resume on June
20, 2005. The company stated they would present the IAM
with a counter proposal at that time. We expect the
company’s proposal will address the demands your Committee
has made on your behalf. Your District and Local Lodge
Representatives will continue to be present in the crew
rooms to answer your questions. We will update you with
information as it becomes available. Thank you for your
continued support.
At Continental Micronesia,
surveys were conducted in April in preparation for
negotiations. The Continental Micronesia contract becomes
amendable on July 1, 2005. No dates have been scheduled
for meetings at this time.
ExpressJet
grievance representatives would like to remind all flight
attendants that potential personality issues with crew
members should be resolved before flight assignments and
to remember that it is encouraged to fly now and grieve
later when a non safety sensitive conflict occurs.
As previously reported, negotiations were last held at
ExpressJet on
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 in Houston. We concluded
agreements on Sections 13, 16, and 18. We finalized
resolutions of all Letters of Agreement. We continue
discussions on the method in which you are paid. We had
extensive discussion on Occupational Injuries. The
Company’s attitude was positive dealing with your issues.
No new dates have been scheduled at this time. Your
patience is appreciated. Your support is essential to
reach an agreement that you will ratify.
Monthly revenue statistics indicate
Continental Airlines
may report a second-quarter profit, airline analysts say.
Strong demand helped Continental's revenue per available
seat mile jump 9.5% in May, compared with the same period
a year ago.
United Airlines
on Tuesday reached a tentative agreement with its
machinists union, avoiding the possibility of a strike.
The company's mechanics union also approved a contract
that will cut pay by 3.9%. United is attempting to emerge
from bankruptcy protection.
US Airways
may consider bids that could rival its plan to merge with
America West
Airlines, a bankruptcy judge ruled
Tuesday. Investors now have 30 days to submit alternative
plans. If no rival bids are proposed, the two airlines
will negotiate a merger pact, however this week it was
reported that
Alaska Airlines may bid to acquire
America West Airlines.
One Alaska shareholder said the plan would help Alaska
compete and gain critical mass. Alaska declined to
comment, and America West could not be reached for
comment.
Northwest Airlines
now has the highest costs in the airline industry and is
looking for ways to lower expenses, the Detroit Free Press
reports. It is now seeking pay cuts from workers and is
using United
Airlines as a model for reducing costs.
The airline recently stopped stocking copies of several
magazines on its flights to save money, the Minneapolis
Star-Tribune reports. Some mechanics union leaders at
Northwest Airlines say they are headed for an "inevitable
strike," according to media reports. The company says it
must cut pay to remain competitive with its rivals. It
recently asked the National Mediation Board to declare an
impasse in its talks with the mechanics union.
In a related story, USA Today
reported Thursday that an executive at Northwest Airlines
warned that bankruptcy is an option if Congress does not
grant the airline more time to shore up its pension plans.
Northwest's pension plans are $3.8 billion under funded.
Northwest wants to stretch out its required payments over
a 25-year period.
The price for a barrel of crude oil
settled at $54.60 Wednesday, up $2.63 from Tuesday and up
more than $7.50 in the last two weeks. The Gulf Coast jet
fuel crack-spread closed Wednesday at $12.81 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.
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, June 9, 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.
