As we previously advised, your Union presented the company with a proposal May 16, 2005, which rejected the company’s demands and addressed the issues you have communicated to your Committee.   The company responded today, May 17, 2005 and rejected the IAM’s proposal in its entirety.  Your Committee does not think further negotiations would be productive at this time.   Therefore, 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.

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. 

The Department of Transportation is in the process of awarding new U.S. carrier route rights to and from Argentina. The company is requesting employees' assistance in communicating to the Secretary of Transportation that Continental and Houston must be awarded the available frequencies. The company is directing workers to the Intranet home page for information about how they can help and to download a letter to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta that can be personalized, printed, signed and sent via company mail to HQSGV. 

United Airlines and its machinists union returned to talks Tuesday, hoping to reach an agreement before the May 31 deadline. United has asked a bankruptcy court judge to void the workers' contract if a new agreement isn't reached. The union has said it will strike if the company is allowed to impose a new contract. 

Northwest Airlines wants to lay off more than 2,000 mechanics and 800 ground operations cleaners, in addition to the 4,400 who already have been laid off or are scheduled to go in the next few months.   "The 2,450 or so mechanics and cleaners who would remain on Northwest's payroll would absorb wage and benefit cuts and work rule changes that would save the airline $176 million a year," the article said. "Their base pay would be cut by about 25 percent."  The mechanists are represented by the McCormick backed AMFA.  Additionally, Northwest Airlines may file for bankruptcy unless it gets more time to fully fund its pension plan. Northwest is asking lawmakers to give it 25 years to fund the plan, up from five years. Northwest's pension plan is now $3.8 billion short. 

Labor News was launched on Monday, May 16th on WLIB 1190 AM in New York, the flagship station of Air America Radio.  The United Federation of Teachers and The Associated Musicians of Greater New York Local 802 AFM sponsored the Workers Independent News segments, which are interspersed throughout Air America programming.

Crude oil prices reversed course over the last weekend and shot up above $50 per barrel Wednesday. Crude oil gained $1.31 on the New York Mercantile Exchange to settle at $50.98 per barrel. 

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 business meeting has been changed to June 21 at the Airport Hilton 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;