The Update Message from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
representing Flight Attendants in the 2339 Local Lodges

Friday, March 12, 2010
 

Reminder: Daylight Saving Time begins each year at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March.  This year it begins on March 14, 2010.  Please don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour at the start of Daylight Saving Time (DST).

Exceptions to DST:
Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii and the territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa are the only places in the U.S. that do not observe DST but instead stay on "standard time" all year long.

ExpressJet Flight Attendants:
Scheduling Committee – The IAM Scheduling Committee consists of three flight attendants, one from each base, who build the lines using the parameters set forth by the company. You may contact them via email at: xjtfalinebuilders@hotmail.com. Please note that the line builders have no ability to handle requests. Please check your bid packet for instructions on how to submit requests.

Please understand that the line builders do not have the authority to alter pairings to improve lines. Pairings are, for the most part, computer generated. All suggestions regarding improving pairings, length of trips, etc. should be emailed to crew planning.

Pay for Lost Days Off in February (per agreement) – you will not see the additional pay on your Master Schedule or on your Pay Register. It will show only on your pay check, so please check your March 16, 2010 pay check to ensure you are paid correctly.

New Base – The ExpressJet Airlines ORD (Chicago) base is scheduled to open May 1, 2010.  The company anticipates 110 crews will be based in Chicago flying United operations.  Watch your bid packets for information about the new base, transfers, etc. ExpressJet plans to send out more information about the new base early next week.

Drafting – Please continue to monitor your pay registers/pay checks to ensure that you are paid correctly for any drafting or reassignments.  If you believe you have been improperly drafted, gather as much information as possible and see your union rep.

Charter – Flight attendants please be aware that if you drop a COEX trip to do a charter trip, you are being paid the value of the COEX trip without the charter override.  A grievance has already been filed. Please contact Nicole Washington-Fears, the designated union representative for charter flight attendants, if you need assistance with charter operations.

Continental Flight Attendant Negotiations Survey concludes in 4 days, on March 15, 2010.  Don’t miss your opportunity to express your thoughts and suggestions on all contract issues.  Data gathered from this survey will be used to produce the next 2 follow-up surveys, “Economics and Quality of Life Issues”.  Please go to www.go142.org to take the survey, if you haven’t already done so.

Continental Open to Merger Should Competition Dictate – Continental Airlines Inc., after calling off a merger with United Airlines two years ago, would resume consolidation efforts to remain competitive, Chief Executive Officer Jeff Smisek said. Continental, the fourth-largest U.S. carrier, will keep monitoring the progress of Delta Air Lines Inc. following its 2008 merger with Northwest Airlines Corp., he said today at a JPMorgan Chase & Co. aviation conference in New York. Continental’s decision to avoid joining UAL Corp.’s United in April 2008 was correct at the time, he said. “We’ll continue to watch competitive dynamics,” Smisek said. “If we think it’s in our best interest to bulk up defensively, we’ll do so. But I think it’s premature to make that decision at this time.” United CEO Glenn Tilton said in January that a merger involving U.S. carriers would be likely in 12 to 24 months, and that the path toward combinations is being smoothed by global alliances. Tilton has advocated U.S. airline industry consolidation since at least 2004. “Continental is a prize that anybody would want, and it would be a very good fit for United,” Ray Neidl, a New York- based independent airline analyst, said in an interview. “Continental has got a good-sized system, but by no means is it equal to the Delta giant.

Find the complete article at:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601209&sid=aLuIyjrV0yIg