Sisters and Brothers:
Your negotiating committee is pleased to announce that the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) representing nearly 1,000 flight attendants, and ExpressJet Airlines have reached a new tentative labor agreement.
As in the previous tentative agreement, the overall value of the four-year accord maintains its status as the leading regional airline contract for flight attendants. Your negotiating committee unanimously recommends a YES vote on this contract, as the tentative agreement will be presented to the membership for a ratification vote.
Despite a significant wage disparity, this tentative agreement brings all ExpressJet Flight Attendants under a single pay scale and parity is achieved as of Date of Ratification (DOR).
Your negotiating committee was also able to maintain the six-month early opener achieved in the last TA in order to take advantage of the major growth projected by ExpressJet.
Job Security
• No furlough LOA through October 31, 2019 for ERJ and CRJ flight attendants.
Healthcare
• Maintained current plans at the same or better costs
• Richer ERJ plans available to CRJ flight attendants
• Current ERJ health insurance plans at current premium share guaranteed for life of the contract for all flight attendants
Wages
• All flight attendants will receive increases and will be on the same pay scale as of DOR
• All eligible ERJ flight attendants on the seniority list at DOR will receive a “snap back” settlement minimum payment of $1700
• $42.42/hour top of scale by end of the contract
Other
• Improved Holiday Pay (ERJ & CRJ)
• Improved Incentive Pay (ERJ & CRJ)
• Improved Deadhead Pay (ERJ)
• Improved 401(k) Contribution (ERJ)
• Higher Minimum Monthly Guarantee (CRJ)
• Improved Commuter Clause (CRJ)
• Higher Uniform Bank (ERJ & CRJ)
• Improved Reserve MMG from last TA
See links for highlight sheets and the full-text tentative agreement:
Informational sessions discussing the agreement are scheduled from March 15 – April 5 in all crew rooms. In addition to the Informational session, members will be able to vote at any base and at a location in Atlanta on March 31 to April 5, 2019, from 8am-5pm local time. If you do choose to vote out of base, a challenged ballot will be used to be reconciled at the count. Results will be announced the week of April 8th.
Link for voting locations and informational session:
Ratification Calendar Voting Locations and Informational Sessions
Your negotiating committee believes that this contract is proof that we are a force to be reckoned with and is an example of the true power we possess as a single, united workgroup. We can now move beyond this very difficult time since our merger and advance into a future of growth and stability.
In solidarity,
Sara Gonzales Marche’ Johnson-Cooper
GENERAL CHAIR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
Banetta Jones – ORD Base Eva Vargas – EWR Base
Sommer Jamiot – CLE Base Christine Perez – IAH Base
Sabrina Mitchell – ORD Base Lora Berntsen – IAH Base
Negotiating Team
POST ON ALL IAM BULLETIN BOARDS