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In an election prompted by the merger of ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) emerged as the clear winner in a contest to determine union representation rights for more than 2,160 Flight Attendants.

“Today’s victory is the result of an extraordinary campaign among Flight Attendants from both carriers,” said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “Flight Attendants carefully compared their options, and chose the only union with a proven track record of industry-leading contracts that provide the higher wages, job security and scheduling flexibility that Flight Attendants need.”

The election, which was conducted by the National Mediation Board (NMB), was between the IAM, which represented 1,150 ExpressJet Flight Attendants, and the Association of Flight Attendants-Communications Workers of America (AFA-CWA), which represented 1,010 Flight Attendants at Atlantic Southeast Airlines.

According to the NMB, the IAM received 1,065 votes, while the AFA-CWA received 666 votes. There were 26 vote for “No Union.”

The Machinists Union has already begun the process of negotiating a single collective bargaining agreement for the combined Flight Attendant group. A bargaining priority survey was launched before voting even began, and the official solicitation of contract proposals will begin immediately.

December 12, 2011 - The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) welcomed today’s National Mediation Board (NMB) single carrier ruling for Passenger Service and Reservation Employees at United Airlines, Continental Airlines and Continental Micronesia. The ruling follows the merger of the three airlines and is necessary before union representation issues can be resolved and integration of the pre-merger Passenger Service groups can occur.

“The IAM is eager to bring the benefits of a secure union contract to all Passenger Service and Reservation Employees at the combined airline,” said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr.

The NMB decision sets in motion a 14-day period during which the IAM will provide evidence of support for the NMB to call for a union representation election. The Board requires a “showing of interest” by at least 35 percent of the combined classification before an election will be scheduled. The NMB will set the time frame for an election after the fourteen days expires.

The IAM represents 9,400 United Airlines Passenger Service Employees, while 7,000 Continental Passenger Service Employees are currently unrepresented. Another 175 Continental Micronesia employees are currently represented by another union.

More information about the IAM’s United Airlines Passenger Service Employee election is available at www.voteiam.com.

Passenger Service Single Carrier Ruling Information

• The National Mediation Board (NMB), an independent agency of the federal government that conducts union representation elections in the airline industry, needed to rule that a single carrier existed for the Passenger Service group before an election can be held.

• The IAM will provide evidence of sufficient interest for a representation election based on our membership numbers at United Airlines to the NMB within the 14-day period.

• After the 14-day period, the NMB will announce that an election will take place.

• After the NMB orders an election, it will announce an election timeline and send voting instructions to each eligible Passenger Service Agent. Voting Instructions will be sent to the current address on file with your airline, so make sure it is up to date.

• Votes can be cast in the election either by telephone or through an Internet website.

• Neither the airlines nor the IAM conducts the election. It is run by the federal government. All voting is done in secret. The company will never know how or if you voted unless you offer that information yourself. No employee is ever required to tell anyone how or if they voted.

The National Mediation Board (NMB) has dismissed the IAM’s election interference complaint against Delta Air Lines in the 2010 election the NMB held on behalf of the airline’s 15,400 Passenger Service employees.

This dismissal follows recent similar NMB decisions on complaints the IAM filed on behalf of the airline’s Fleet Service and Stock & Stores employees.

“The NMB has forsaken its duty to defend every air and rail worker’s right to organize into a union free from coercion, interference or intimidation,” said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “This is another example of government siding with business, and hardworking Americans are stuck paying the price.”

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. today condemned the National Mediation Board (NMB)’s indefensible dismissal of the IAM’s 2010 Delta Air Lines Fleet Service election interference complaint.

“The Machinists Union disagrees wholeheartedly with this decision,” said Roach. “The NMB’s conclusions do not accurately reflect the illegal actions undertaken by Delta Air Lines during the election.”

Among the election violations the IAM charged Delta Air Lines with are coercing pre-merger Delta employees to vote from Delta-controlled computers while electronically blocking pre-merger Northwest employees (IAM members) from voting from Delta computers. Additionally, Delta habitually engaged in surveillance and intimidation designed to make employees fearful of supporting the IAM. The Machinists Union provided more than 180 exhibits to demonstrate the breadth of the interference.

“Although we do not agree with Delta’s conduct or the NMB’s conclusions, we are prepared to move to the next step,” said Roach. “Delta employees do not need the NMB to order a new election; all they have to do is sign an IAM card requesting an election, and we will do the rest. The IAM is prepared to work with Delta employees to bring them the justice they deserve. We will not let Delta Air Lines or their political allies deter us from that goal.”

The federal government has again sided with Delta Air Lines Inc. in a dispute over a union election.

Atlanta-based Delta (NYSE: DAL) said in a news release Monday the National Mediation Board rejected claims by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers that the airline interfered with a November 2010 union election involving Delta TechOps Stores employees.

Most of Northwest's employees were unionized before the carrier was sold in 2008, while most of Delta's were not. Pilots are the only major unionized group at Delta.

Delta's 700 TechOps employees include stock clerks and supply attendants. They manage the supply of parts for the carrier's maintenance and repair division.

Earlier this month, federal labor mediators sided with Delta on accusations that it interfered in last year's failed drive to organize flight attendants.

The federal board still has not ruled in two other similar cases involving baggage handlers and passenger service employees.

Tapping into the wealth of experience that is among the IAM’s greatest resources, International President Tom Buffenbarger named Sito Pantoja to become the newest member of the IAM Executive Council. Pantoja will begin serving as General Vice President (GVP) of the Transportation Territory on January 1, 2012 and succeed current Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr., who will become the IAM’s General Secretary-Treasurer.

Pantoja, a 34-year IAM member who began his union career as a Shop Steward at Local 1056 in New York while working as a TWA aircraft mechanic, went on to hold numerous IAM positions before being appointed Grand Lodge Special Representative in 1999. A graduate of Aviation High School in New York and the National Labor College in Maryland, Pantoja is a current member of Local 949 in St. Louis, MO and has served as Chief of Staff to Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. since 2005.

“Sito’s leadership skills have been on display at every level of this union for more than three decades,” said International President Tom Buffenbarger. “He understands the importance of direct contact with the membership and he knows how to manage the complex laws that govern organizing, bargaining and contract administration in the air and rail sector. His insights and his experience will be invaluable for the nearly 100,000 members in the transportation sector.”

IAM Local 1759 captured first place honors in the category of General Excellence for local web sites in the 2011 IAM Newsletter and Website Competition. It is the highest award offered in the web site category.

Retired Local 1759 Editor and Webmaster Al Abromitis established www.iam1759.org in 1992. Over two decades, Al has won dozens of newsletter and web site awards from the IAM Communications Department and the International Labor Communications Association (ILCA). In addition, he received the IAM's Robert J. Kalaski Special Performance Award in 2007.

For more information and a complete list of 2011 IAM web site and newsletter award recipients click Here.

October 31, 2011

IAM&AW Local 1747 Merges with Local 1759

To All Members of Local 1747 and Local 1759:

Please be advised that by order of the IAM&AW Executive Council, Local Lodge 1747 located in Alexandria, Virginia has been merged with Local Lodge 1759 also located in Alexandria, Virginia effective October 31, 2011.

All rights and privileges of membership in the IAMAW will be recognized through Local Lodge 1759. Retired members are reminded that they must report to Local Lodge 1759 annually, not later than March 1 of each calendar year, advising the local lodge of their current mailing address.

Local Lodge 1759 contact information is:

Richard Pascarella, President
1037 Sterling Rd., Ste. 104
Herndon VA 20170
(703) 318-8487

John Grandestaff, Secretary-Treasurer
1037 Sterling Rd., Ste. 104
Herndon VA 20170
(703) 318-8487

Local Lodge 1759 meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at the union hall located at: 1037 Sterling Road, Suite 103, Herndon, VA 20170. An additional meeting is held on the third Tuesday at 12:00 noon. Additional information may be available by contacting the Local Lodge officers.

The officers and members of Local 1759 welcome all Local 1747 members and retirees into the organization.

September 20, 2011

IAM Files for Passenger Service Employees at United Airlines

The IAM filed an application with the National Mediation Board (NMB) asking the Board to rule that United Airlines, Continental Airlines and Continental Micronesia are now operating as a single transportation system for union representation purposes in the Passenger Service classification. Such a ruling is a necessary first step before union representation issues can be resolved.

“Passenger Service and Reservations employees at the combined carrier deserve the same union protection that almost 80% of the workforce already enjoys, “said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “United employees remember what it was like before they joined the Machinists Union, and Continental employees have seen the advantages of being unionized.”

The IAM represents 9,400 United Airlines Passenger Service employees and Continental’s 7,000 Passenger Service employees are unrepresented. An additional 175 Continental Micronesia employees are represented by another union. Unlike most elections prompted by the merger of the three airlines, Passenger Service employees will likely be choosing between the Machinists Union and no union. The Passenger Service classification includes Reservation Agents at each airline, as well as airport Customer Service and Sales Agents.

“We look forward to working with the Passenger Service employees at the combined airline,” said IAM District 141 President Rich Delaney. “As the union representing the combined group, the IAM will leverage our bargaining power, experience and resources to ensure Passenger Service employees are rewarded in this merger, and do not become casualties of it.”

For more information, go to www.voteiam.com.

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