IAM&AW LL2339N
IAM&AW LL2339N News
Sunday July 18th, 2010
Greetings!
Want to be an IAM superstar?  We are seeking flight attendants to make a new film representing the IAM.  No previous union activity or experience is necessary.
We will be filming the video this Thursday, July 22nd at EWR.  If you are interested please e-mail working4u@ll23394u.org and we will contact you with exact times as they become available. 
 
July Issues of Flight Line

July NewsletterIf you have yet to receive your copy of the July edition of Flight Line feel free to stop by the union communications desk to pick one up, read it online by clicking the image to the right, or at LL23394U.org.  You can read about the recent Congressional Hearings that took place regarding the proposed merger of Continental and United Airlines.  You can also access the CAL Grievance Committee report and and an update on international hotel inspections.  There are articles on women's and LGBT rights and the epidemic of human trafficking and how we can do our part to put an end to this tragedy taking place all over the world.  If you have any interests or suggestions for upcoming issues of Flight Line please e-mail working4u@LL23394U.org
 
ExpressJet Flight Attendants
The contract screening committee met recently in MCI and reviewed contract proposals.  Your negotiating committee, consisting of Base Chairs Nicole Washington-Fears - (CLE), Michael Becerra - (EWR), Dana Fremont - (IAH) and Lisa Kelley - (ORD), and General Chairs Kate Romanausky and Randy Hatfield, will be meeting at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in August to begin preparation for negotiations.  We will keep you updated as we move through the process.
 
The District and the company met earlier this week to address scheduling concerns.  We urge you to continue to forward your concerns to your local representatives so that they may be addressed with the company.
 
The company has advised that some flight attendants have not requested their choices to restore days off lost in February.  Any flight attendant who is still waiting for days off to be restored must email Gary Cerrato, at gary.cerrato@expressjet.com, before July 31, and provide him with two choices for each day to be restored.
 
ORD:  The union continues to pressure the company regarding the use of the flight attendant jump seat on our own aircraft, however, the company reports that it has so far been unable to secure any cooperation from United.

NTSB Cites Heroism by IAM Flight Attendants

FA's

In a report released this week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cited high winds as the probable cause for the crash of Continental Flight 1404 at Denver International Airport on December 20, 2008. The NTSB also credited the IAM-represented Flight Attendants for the successful evacuation of all 110 passengers and crew from the burning aircraft.

"This accident was nothing short of a holiday miracle," said NTSB chair Deborah Hersman at the Washington, D.C. meeting held to announce the results of the board's investigation. Hersman called the actions of the Flight Attendants on Flight 1404 "a shining example of the things that went right that evening."

The scene inside the aircraft was described in vivid detail in a Denver Post article published immediately following the accident. "Windows were melting and popping. Passengers were screaming, 'we're gonna burn' and 'it's gonna explode," said Continental pilot Richard Lowe, who commended the cabin crew for taking command of the situation.

Despite injuries sustained in the crash, the three IAM Flight Attendants, Pam Howard, Al Felipe and Regina Ressler, calmed panicked passengers and directed the evacuation through exits that were not engulfed in flames.

The three Flight Attendants, who are members of Local 2339H in Houston, TX, were honored at the 2009 IAM Transportation Conference in New York with the first IAM Joint Air Transport Safety Committee Excellence in Safety Award.

WWW Center Hosts Historic Merger Summit DL142

The prospect of a greatly consolidated airline industry is responsible for an unprecedented conference taking place at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Southern Maryland.
 
More than 100 IAM representatives and members from Districts 141, 142 and 143 took part this week in the first-ever Transportation Merger Summit, designed to coordinate resources for upcoming representation elections at Delta Air Lines and to consider implications of the pending United-Continental merger.
 
As the largest union in the airline industry, the IAM represents employees at each of the carriers involved in this latest round of consolidation. District 141 represents more than 16,000 employees at United Airlines; District 142 represents about 11,000 Flight Attendants at Continental Airlines, Continental Micronesia and Express Jet; and District 143 represents 12,500 employees at the former Northwest Airlines.
 
Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. described the elections at Delta as having the potential to define working conditions in the airline industry for decades to come.
 
"We cannot and we will not allow a non-union Delta to set new low standards in benefits and compensation for the rest of the industry," declared Roach. "The eyes of this industry and the world are upon us in this fight and we will rise to the occasion."
 
In contrast to the fight taking shape at Delta Air Lines, the IAM is carefully weighing the potential benefits of a merger between United and Continental Airlines.
 
With a long history of representation rights at both United and Continental, the IAM invited senior management representatives from each carrier to address the conference.
 
United Airlines Senior VP of Labor Relations Doug McKeen and Continental Human Resources & Labor Relations Senior VP Mike Bonds each gave presentations and submitted to freewheeling question-and-answer sessions with members that touched on the most sensitive of merger-related subjects, including seniority integration, station closings, pass travel, retirement benefits and of course, representation rights.
 
"One of the first things we established following the announcement of the United-Continental merger was that our members would be provided with as much information as possible," said Roach. "While we have not taken a formal position for or against the United-Continental merger, we are encouraged by their willingness to meet with our representatives and respond to our members' concerns."
Sincerely,
 
E-Board
IAM&AW LL2339N