The Update Message from the International Association of Machinists representing Continental, ExpressJet and Continental Micronesia
Flight Attendants in the 2339 Local Lodges

Friday, October 6, 2006
 

Union Meets With Continental To Present The EEMK General Grievance – IAM District 142 Representatives met with Continental Airlines In-Flight Management this week in Houston, Texas, to present the Union’s General Grievance regarding discipline being assessed in relation to the EEMK incidents. The Company’s position is that the discipline was necessary because it was part of its corrective action presented to the FAA to remedy the situation. The Union’s position is that the discipline is too harsh to our members and requests that all discipline be removed from Company records, considering that some of the blame belongs to other work groups and the Company for allowing the incidents to occur and continue. We will keep you advised of any new developments as they occur.
 

The IAM Gets Credit For “Weathering the Storm” – In an article written this week by Ted Reed, a Staff Reporter for TheStreet.com, your union, the IAM, is given credit for steering its members through a very stormy chapter in the airline industry. Reed writes, “It is said that in the event of a nuclear holocaust, only Cher and cockroaches will have enough resilience to survive. Perhaps the International Association of Machinists should be added to the list.” The article highlights your union’s efforts to minimize the damage at bankrupt carriers such as United, US Airways and Northwest, while insisting on the preservation of jobs and defined benefits plans, namely the IAM National Pension Plan. “United was getting ready to abrogate the [old] contract,” says Robert Roach, Jr., the IAM General Vice President of Transportation. “They were afraid of what the other unions would say if we had a pension plan and the others did not. But we told them we must have the pension plan or we would shut the airline down,” Roach adds. The IAM secured the National Pension Plan for more than 16,000 members at United. The article also details the AMFA debacle at Northwest in representing their mechanics and other IAM successes at Boeing and US Airways. At US Airways, the IAM is now negotiating transition agreements. Under the Teamster contract, heavy maintenance was farmed-out to third-party contractors. Under the IAM contract, most heavy maintenance is done in-house. “We are looking to get some work back,” Roach says. “Once these transition agreements are completed, it will require several hundred mechanics to be recalled. Salary is also part of it, of course, but salary is meaningless if you don’t have job security to go with it,” he adds.
To read the entire article, click on the following link:  Machinist Union Weathers the Storm 

Continental Airlines Flight Attendants are reminded that their 2007 Benefits Enrollment begins October 9th, 2006. You can access information on how to enroll, view the changes to the plan, and where to go to find information through the CCS home page by clicking on ‘MyCOAIR’. The 2007 Benefits Enrollment will continue through October 27th, 2006.
 

Some Airlines Report Stronger September Traffic – Several airlines reported gains in September traffic, a sign they will report strong third-quarter profits, analysts say. "Nothing but good news, particularly for comprehensive network carriers," analyst Michael Boyd says. "Everything points to a recovered airline industry and a strong airline industry." Meanwhile, carriers reporting weaker September numbers say new security rules put in place after the foiled London terror plot hurt results. Continental Airlines reported an 11.5% increase in traffic for September.
 

Mesaba Needs Deeper Pay Cuts To Negotiate Northwest Pact – Pilots, mechanics and flight attendants at Mesaba Aviation have offered to take a 15% pay cut, but the airline says it needs larger concessions. Mesaba says it needs deeper cuts so it can negotiate a new agreement as a regional carrier feeding Northwest flights.
 

High Costs May Force Comair To Lay Off Workers – Comair may have to lay off hundreds of workers if it does not reach cost-cutting contract agreements with labor groups, company officials say. On Monday, the airline submitted a bid to Delta Air Lines to fly regional routes. Analysts say the lack of labor pacts may mean Comair's bid won't be competitive.
 

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, October 10th, 3:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Airport Hotel.

Cleveland:  Thursday, October 12th, 1:00 p.m. at 669 North Rocky River Drive.

Houston:    Tuesday, October 17th, 1:00 p.m. at 15710 JFK Blvd.

Guam:         Wednesday, October 18th, 4:00 p.m. at the Airport Conference Room.