Air Transport District Lodge 142 400 N. E. 32nd St.

Kansas City, MO 64116-2983

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S 0 2 0 2 r e m m u Page 2 District Lodge 142 OBSERVER Summer 2020

Secretary-Treasurer’s Report By Ian Scott-Anderman Elections are crucial, and so is the Census

ew things are certain in this It is more important than ever for all mine how billions of dollars will be al - election year, but we do know of us to accept our responsibility to located to schools, childcare programs, that your vote will play a sig - Not a single citizen, elect leaders who are actively commit - affordable housing, road maintenance nificant role in determining let alone a union ted to reason and respect for all who are projects, social assistance programs tFhe future course of the country. member, can afford coping with COVID-19, regardless of and more. Beyond the presidential contest (as who they are or where they live. By filling out the form, your data important as that is!), the outcomes of to leave these choices To achieve this, we must all discern will help officials decide where new congressional and Senate elections for others to make. between facts and emotionally-charged hospitals are built, health programs are everywhere will have a significant im - rhetoric and misinformation. And we enhanced, and jobs and business oppor - pact on national policy on every con - must vote for those who are aligned tunities are strengthened. ceivable issue, from labor rights to COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed with the aspirations and interests of Many communities have been un - workplace safety, from environmental more than 191,000 Americans so far working Americans. derrepresented or undercounted in past protections to support for public edu - and sickened millions more. It has Not a single citizen, let alone a Censuses. An undercount means we are cation and more. caused additional economic hardship union member, can afford to leave not getting our fair share of funding The power of your vote also extends for millions of others. these choices for others to make. This and representation. to your state, county and local levels, There’s plenty of blame to spread is not a time to be passive or indecisive. Is there any risk in participating where decisions made by our represen - around for our country’s inability to Please be sure that you are registered fully in the Census? No! tatives in government have direct ef - take control of this pandemic from the to vote. And while polling places will Information collected during the fects on our everyday lives. outset. On the federal level, we can be open on Election Day, Nov. 3, you 2020 Census may not be shared or used point to failures in preparing for a po - can avoid long lines and their potential against you in any way. Your informa - Leadership against COVID-19 tential public health crisis and mar - health risks by requesting an absentee tion is only used to generate statistics. shalling the resources necessary to (mail-in) ballot. It may not be shared with immigration In these times, there is no issue that confront it when it arrived. Don’t let apathy or lack of informa - or law enforcement agencies and it affects our lives more directly than the Even now, eight months into the pan - tion deprive you of your right to partic - may not be used to determine your eli - demic, our response remains hampered ipate in this historic election. Too much gibility for government benefits. Your by a widespread distrust of science and is at stake. privacy and security are taken seri - ously. https://www.census.gov. the trained experts on whom we must Everyone should rely for accurate information and advice. The 2020 Census is an opportunity This distrust is actively encouraged by participate in the Census for everyone to shape our future. Take some individuals in public office. The 2020 Census will help deter - advantage of it! Official publication of the International Association of Machinists and EAP Report Aerospace Workers, By Paul Shultz, EAP Chair District Lodge 142 AFL-CIO Editor-in-Chief Our time to shine Dave Supplee Helping ourselves and our communities in this time of crisis

Headquarters ow, what a tough year it • If you can afford to pay your mort - been in this pandemic for seven months. 400 N. E. 32nd St. has been so far! gage or rent payment, you should do so. Some signs of stress are: Kansas City, MO 64116 Let us sit back and take a If not, you may be able to get relief or • A noticeable change in your energy couple of deep breaths. defer rent or mortgage payments due to level, whether it’s an increase or de - (816) 452-6646 WCOVID-19 has taken a lot from us being affected by COVID-19. If you crease. and changed our daily lives and rou - cannot pay, contact your mortgage com - • Increased irritability with abnormal Fax: (816) 455-4793 tines, so here is a brief recap of some of pany or landlord right away and explain outbursts of anger. You’re more argu - www.iamdl142.org the resources and tips we have to help your situation. mentative than usual. you cope with the crisis. • If you can afford to pay your car • Excessive worrying, difficulty payment, do so. If you cannot make General financial tips sleeping or excessive sleeping. your payments, contact your lender as • Difficulty relaxing or having a good • If you cannot pay all of your bills, soon as possible. Also, do not let your time. then prioritize. Food should be first. insurance lapse. The same with required • An increase in your alcohol or to - There may be food banks and or chari - maintenance, as that may save a larger bacco use, and/or using illicit sub - table organizations in your area that will expense down the road. stances and self-medicating. help you to maximize your food dollar. • If you can afford to pay your utility Some ways to relieve stress and cope bills, do so. If not, contact the utility and with the current events are: social services right away. Some relief • Take the time to breathe. In almost IAMAW Employee Assistance Program may be available. These programs vary any stressful situation, you will have the National Contact Information from state to state and sometimes by lo - time to step back and breathe deeply for Paul Shultz, Director cality. a minute. lAM EAP Services Coping with stress • Keep things in perspective. Get the Air Transport District 142 facts from trusted and reliable news (704) 907-3563 This pandemic has been incredibly sources, company and union bulletins, [email protected] stressful for most of us, including your the CDC, and state and local agencies. family and your sisters and brothers at • Get enough sleep, eat as healthy as work. Stress is cumulative and we have (Continued on next page) Summer 2020 District Lodge 142 OBSERVER Page 3

President’s Report By Dave Supplee

COVID-19 hits hard at the airline industry

ince our previous issue of the Observer , our industry has been devastated by the effects of COVID-19. Most of our carriers have issued Worker A note of sympathy... Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN) to S ur union is a big family bound together by solidarity. This unity is the source of our thousands of our members. As I write this article, is issuing more than 17,000 fur - strength. When we win together, we celebrate together. And when we feel loss, we share lough notices to their employees; more than 800 of our sadness together. As the union slogan goes, “An injury to one is an injury to all.” them will be sent to our members. OWith this in mind, I want to give voice to the compassion we all feel toward those in our Our foreign flag operators, British Airways, El Al union family who have been touched by the devastating effects of the COVID-19 virus. and Aer Lingus, have either stopped all flying to the Too many of us have loved ones, friends and colleagues who have been sickened in the past or are operating minimal flights be - several months. Some of these have become debilitated for long periods of time. Some have cause of travel restrictions in place across the world. even died. And many more have lost their jobs, their businesses, and their piece of mind. For those working for the major U.S. carriers, you To all who have been affected, IAM District Lodge 142 expresses its deepest sympathy — are fortunate that Congress passed the CARES Act, which included the Paycheck Support Program and solidarity. (PSP) that provided funding to airlines to keep all Sincerely, workers employed. Unfortunately, that program ex - Dave Supplee pires on Sept. 30. President and Directing General Chair, IAM District 142 If you have not contacted your legislators to en - courage them to pass the extension of the CARES Act, please do so now! Check the District website on how to send your message to your representatives. issues to keep our members safe on the job. being offered. This is one thing that can stop all furloughs! We have been addressing voluntary leaves and We continue to stay in contact with the mediators Many of our ground handling companies were voluntary separation programs with our companies, and arbitrators, and as soon as they provide us dates able to take advantage of many state unemployment all to mitigate involuntary furloughs. While these are and we can safely resume, we will. changes that provided benefits for those who are still all company-offered programs, our union ensures the This has been a trying year for all of us. To quote employed but working reduced hours. offers do not violate any Collective Bargaining Sito Pantoja, “While we are certainly going to have Your District leadership has been working closely Agreements (CBAs). Any company is free to offer to navigate some turbulent times in the near term, we with all of our companies during these trying times anything above the CBA, but it cannot offer some - WILL get through this crisis as we have others. to ensure our members keep their employment — thing that violates the agreement. That’s exactly what the Fighting Machinists do.” while staying safe doing their jobs. I cannot give At , the company had enough Stay safe! Brian Szolodko, our Ground Safety director, enough employees participate in the voluntary program that credit for all of his efforts since the pandemic hit, the carrier does not have any involuntary reductions. working day and night and through weekends on is - Hawaiian, Alaska and American are either still offer - sues that continued to arise at our carriers regarding ing their voluntary programs or are now going to in - temperature checks, wellness statements and other voluntary furloughs as a result of not enough To all who took participation. At ExpressJet Airlines, all labor groups were ad - company offers, vised that was selecting one regional carrier, either ExpressJet or CommutAir. The com - pany asked all labor groups to have discussions to thank you! ‘We WILL get through make ExpressJet a more attractive option to United. All labor groups stepped up to meet that chal - s I mentioned in my column this crisis as we lenge, but in the end it was not enough. ExpressJet above, most of our major carri - has announced it would cease operations effective ers have offered “early out” have others. That’s Sept. 30, 2020 after losing the bid. We will be losing packages and voluntary leaves more than 900 Flight Attendants because of that de - oAf absences to reduce the number of exactly what the cision by United Airlines. (see story page 8) members who will be furloughed invol - As a result of many state and local mandates pro - untarily. hibiting gatherings of groups of people and restric - As this edition goes to print, many of Fighting Machinists do.’ tions on travel for federal mediators and arbitrators, these offers are still open or have closed all negotiations we had been holding are on hold. At this time, all arbitrations we had scheduled have been and are being processed by the compa - cancelled by the arbitrators, with no future dates nies. While we are not yet aware of all those who have taken company offers, we are EAP Report: It’s our time to shine certain many members who were stew - ards, grievance reps, station reps and (Continued from previous page) tailor our information to what will be most helpful even local lodge officers will participate for you. possible, and exercise. Very importantly, take the time We are not only the Fighting Machinists, we are in them. to be good to yourself. also the Compassionate Machinists. We will meet the To all the members who are leaving • Show kindness and understanding to your challenges of COVID-19 with honor, dignity and their companies, I thank you for your coworkers. You never know what somebody else is compassion for those who are struggling. support. To those who were local reps or dealing with. Your smile and kind words may be what One of our greatest strengths is the way we watch officers, thank you for your service! And gets them through their day. out for and take care of our own, and then do the to everyone, I wish you the best in the • Develop a positive attitude and help others who same for the communities in which we live and work. next chapter of your lives. I hope you are less fortunate. This is a great way to improve your This is truly our time to shine. have a long and enjoyable retirement! mental attitude. Take care and stay safe, my brothers and sisters. — Dave Supplee The above is just a small sample of the informa - Please call any time at (704) 907-3563 if you have tion and resources the EAP has available. Call me and any questions or if you would just like to talk. You we can talk about your specific circumstances and can also email me at [email protected]. Page 4 District Lodge 142 OBSERVER Summer 2020 Congratulations to our

FIRST PLACE WINNER JANE MICHIGAN ’S ESSAY : What am I doing to make this a better world? had difficulty when choosing a career path and my aspirations concerning the future were very vague. I developed passions for playing the piano, Irish step dancing and ath - letics, but none of these interests were viable career choices in my eyes. Frankly, I was more focused on choosing a career based on salary more than anything else. II began to adjust my attitude after witnessing how rewarding the Public Health field is for my cousin. She is currently a Public Health major at the University of Southern California, and the last I heard from her, she was preparing for a trip to South Africa. In the certain area that she was traveling to, it is common for children to drown in nearby bodies of water because they lack the knowledge of how to swim. Her goal was to provide the kids with swimming lessons to prevent future drowning incidents. My cousin helped me to see that certain careers offer greater rewards than money. Helping people to improve their way of life is something that I seek to ac - complish as I attend college and eventually acquire a job. I signed up for the course, “Great Diseases,” at my high school to further explore my interest in Public Health. I can easily say that it was my favorite class. When I was still in school we discussed past pandemics and explored how to investigate the source of varying diseases. We talked about the World Health Or - ganization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Amer - ican Public Health Association, which are all places that I could see myself Jane Michigan pursuing a career in. Clemson University, North Carolina My enrollment in “Great Diseases” could not have been timelier, as COVID- 19 had been recently identified in Wuhan, China. As the pandemic worsened, it Member Parent: became a more significant topic in class. I learned how Public Health organizations Gregory Michigan, assist in preventing disease, but sometimes it is out of their hands. My school year was suspended ... so my class is now completely online. I sin - Local Lodge 1726, cerely hope that school will resume so that I can further my introduction of Public Health in a classroom before I go to college. My plan is to attend Clemson University and participate in Clemson’s pres - ever, the reason I would be most interested in serving is because I know how tigious Public Health program. Clem - beneficial it can be to the lives of individual people. son joined with the Medical I have read accounts from people who have spent time volunteering with University of South Carolina to offer the Peace Corps. An Emerson College graduate, Gabrielle Tassone, com - a 4+1 program leading to a Master in mented: “I am a completely different person now than when I left, though I Public Health. Following my know my core and morals are still the same. The Peace Corps, as silly as it I applied to Clemson before I knew sounds, has made me a better person.” She added that her time in the Peace what I wanted to major in, and so I feel education, which Corps was the fastest, most rewarding two years of her life. incredibly lucky that my first college Tassone’s commentary describes exactly the type of experience I am looking choice had a program that fit so well will include a for and I hope that the opportunity arises in the future. To prepare for the vol - with my newly selected career path. unteer work I hope to accomplish later in life, I continuously volunteer for var - An issue that Clemson’s Department master’s degree ious organizations. of Public Health Sciences continues to For example, I worked alongside the Salvation Army and played the stress is cardiovascular disease. It is the and possibly a keyboard outside of my local grocery store in order to collect money number one cause of death and ac - around the holidays. Almost everyone donated at least something and al - counts for 31% of deaths all over the though it was freezing, the experience taught me how gratifying it is to world. Ph.D, I will apply help people in need. Just one way that Clemson helps to A few years ago, I traveled to Nicaragua and worked with local villagers prepare students for a master’s degree all of my hard work on a sustainable water project and assisted in the creation of a tree nursery addressing the issue of cardiovascular and wash stations. It was yet another rewarding experience and I made disease is through training in noneva - to making the world great new friendships. I continue to keep in touch with some of the sive vascular testing and adult teenagers whom I met in the town that I worked in and it is always nice to echocardiography. Echocardiography a better place. hear from them. is the use of ultrasound waves to in - I feel that having a plan can help when one is preparing for the future. My vestigate the action of the heart. current path in Public Health will help to structure the next chapter in my life, Each piece of information that I but it will more importantly be how I make the world a better place. gather about Clemson’s Public Health Program intrigues me even further and I However, I also understand that plans can easily change. I may not end strongly believe that it can prepare me to enter the workforce once I graduate. up in the Peace Corps or the Public Health field, but I believe that it is most Following my education, which will include a master’s degree and possibly a important to stay true to my morals and do my best to help people whenever Ph.D, I will apply all of my hard work to making the world a better place. possible. My plan is to enter the Peace Corps for one year. The personal benefits of join - The pandemic will have hopefully passed by the time I graduate, but when ing the Peace Corps are appealing. You can travel the world and receive foreign I do, I will make my contribution to ensure that our world will be prepared for language instruction, and some lenders will defer or cancel student loans. How - the next one. Summer 2020 District Lodge 142 OBSERVER Page 5 r scholarship winners!

Natalie Romaniello n her graduation from high Elisa Sagisi school, scholarship winner University of O Natalie Romaniello holds her scholarship certificate from IAM , Bothell District Lodge 142. Her mother, Linda Romaniello, Majoring in law, Alaska Airlines, Local Lodge 368 in Andrea Mondoy-Honaker economics and Fort Lauderdale, writes: ndrea Mondoy-Honaker has been a member of the IAM for almost public policy “Poor kid, though! Not only was 20 years. She is a Cargo Lead Customer Service Agent for Alaska her senior year in high school Airlines. Member Parent: ruined, now it looks like most of her A freshman classes at Tallahassee will Andrea has been a shop steward and auditor for Local Lodge 2202. She currently serves as chief shop steward and vice president of her local. Naomi Sagisi, be online. She is still optimistic and Andrea is studying business management at WGU. She loves to travel, Alaska Airlines is rolling with the punches, as we all are. She will definitely have a story especially to her home state of Hawaii. Supporting and cheering Andrea on Local Lodge 2202 is her husband, Gabe, and their children, Carlan and Malcolm. to tell one of these days!” SeaTac

Aizayah Maka Yacapin Michael Ackerman Simon Fraser University, British Columbia University of Central Florida, Orlando Majoring in business Majoring in mechanical engineering Member Parent: and aerospace engineering Casey Yacapin, Alaska Airlines Member Parent: Local Lodge 2202, SeaTac Rachel Ackerman, Local Lodge 368, Ft. Lauderdale Page 6 District Lodge 142 OBSERVER Summer 2020

Ground Safety Report By Brian Szolodko, Ground Safety Director

Solidarity sees us through every peril

he importance of our solidarity has never been by a main road within walking distance from your made so clear to me as it has now. house. The car is protected by the garage building and Throughout these incredibly difficult and un - I have every belief that the main roads are cleared first, so you can have a ve - Tcertain times, I’ve seen great examples of our hicle available to get essential needs met for you and Safety Committee members and the entire member - our solidarity will see us your neighbors who might be stuck. ship doing everything they can to keep us safe and Also, be mindful of possible downed power lines heathy all across our district. through again, as it has and debris. Many injuries occur after the storm when This is no time to let up. We need to keep going. we let our guard down. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that done with every other Most local news stations, supermarkets, police we all follow the guidelines established by health and challenge and hurdle agencies and fire services have weather preparedness safety organizations worldwide as well as federal, guides, as do federal, local and state governments. state and local governments. placed in front of us. Here are just some helpful sites: Please do your part to protect others — just as they • NWS (National Weather Service) Safety and should be doing their part to protect you — by wear - Preparedness Page: www.weather.gov/akq/Prepare ing a mask and following other health protocols. • IATA (International Air Transport Associa - • DHS (U.S Dept. of Homeland Security): Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or use tion): www.iata.org www.ready.gov hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol (ethanol is OK, but not methanol). Maintain social distancing • NIH/NIAID (National Institutes of Health/Na - • FEMA (Federal Emergency Management whenever possible. tional Institute of Allergy and Infectious Dis - Agency): www.fema.gov If you see something unsafe, please report it to eases) : www.nih.gov • ARC (American Red Cross): your local Safety Committee as soon as possible. We I know the focus has been placed on COVID-19 www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emer - will get through this together! and rightly so, but I want to be sure we don’t lose gencies Information on this pandemic is key. Here are focus on the other dangers we encounter. One of those some helpful sites: If you are on Facebook, look for the IAMAW Dis - dangers is storms. trict 142 Safety and Health Group. • CDC (Centers for Disease Control): www.cdc.gov Whether you’re encountering a hurricane, a tor - Please be safe. We are a family and we have a re - nado, a blizzard or any other type of storm, the key • U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration): sponsibility to look out for one another. I am proud to survival is preparation. As a Floridian, I have dealt www.fda.gov to be your brother; I am proud that you are part of my with hurricanes my entire life, and I can tell you that • WHO (World Health Organization): www.who.int family. preparing not just for the storm but for after the storm I have every belief that our solidarity will see us • ISDA (Infectious Diseases Society of America): can make all the difference. through again, as it has done with every other chal - www.idsociety.org Having a discussion at your next meeting to share lenge and hurdle placed in front of us. We are Fight - • ANSI (American National Standards Institute): plans and ideas can be helpful. For example, one tip ing Machinists, and nothing can take that away from www.ansi.org I’ve found useful is to park a car in a parking garage us! GC Jackie Fay retires after 40 years in IAM eneral Chair Jackie Fay re - tired from District Lodge 142 on July 31, at the end of her ‘T he more people G term as GC. know about the union, “I figured a while ago that at age 70 it would be time for me to go,” she the more success said. Fay is still involved in the union as the union will have.’ a dues-paying member of Local Lodge 2202, and she doesn’t plan on stopping. “I’m not going away,” she said. “I plee and his leadership.” retired from my job, not my union. And “Being in the know is key to being when this pandemic calms down I plan a GC,” she said. “I was not a stranger on getting in there and working on the to the union and I knew all about it Retiree Committee.” growing up,” she said. Fay began her career in 1981, work - Fay is a third-generation Machinist. ing in reservations at Alaska Airlines in Her grandmother worked in the kitchen Jackie Fay Dan Suafoa will take over Jackie Fay’s route , and within two years she was for Northwest and her mother assem - as General Chair. active in the union as a shop steward. bled aircraft at Boeing’s Renton plant. In subsequent years she served as “My grandmother was in the union “I loved to make station visits and Fay added: “I want to thank Tom president of Local Lodge 2202, and in and when one group went out on the encourage the shop stewards to learn Higginbotham and Dave Supplee for 2006 she became a General Chair for picket line, all of the other union more and know more,” she said. their leadership of District 142, as well IAM District 143, serving members at groups honored the line,” Fay said. “At “That’s where success is made — the as (IAM Transportation Department Alaska Airlines, Northwest Airlines times there were more people out on more people know about the union, the Vice Presidents) Robert Roach, Jr. and and . the picket lines than there were people more success the union will have.” Sito Pantoja. They and the Grand “In January of 2010, former District working in the kitchen.” Fay noted that members have oppor - Lodge representatives were always 142 President Tom Higginbotham “Working with members has been tunities to educate themselves in lead - available for help or advice on how to brought me over from District 143, and wonderful,” she added. “It’s good to ership classes at the William W. proceed with things. I’ve been very grateful for that oppor - enjoy the victories when they come, Winpisinger Center in Maryland and at “The IAM is such a good team. tunity to be part of this district,” she and we continue to fight for the group.” their local lodges. Even though we belong to different dis - said. “I’ve enjoyed working with Tom As a General Chair, Fay especially “The Winpisinger Center is the tricts, it’s our diversity that gives us and with current President Dave Sup - enjoyed motivating and educating the sparkling gem of the IAM,” she said. strength. We all learn from each other members. “There is always something going on.” all the time.” Summer 2020 District Lodge 142 OBSERVER Page 7

Flight Safety Report By John Hall, Flight Safety Director

Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork

here is an adage in aviation: “Every time a fire extinguisher flew around for six months. plane takes off, another tree falls.” As mechanics, we operate under our company’s This has never been more true. As our air - policy or procedures manuals. The FAA operates Tlines grow, as our aircraft get more complex, ‘S ay what you under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs). the technical documentation and record keeping When they viewed these actions through these two grow with them. Long gone are the days when it was mean, mean what CFR’s, it was a very serious offense that could have stamping off a phase check card or making an occa - resulted in certificate action. sional logbook entry. you say, Please note: The number one ASAP driver is and has been documentation errors. This is a wide net and it in - and sign for 14 CFR§ 43.12(a) (1) - When a fraudulent or in - cludes failing to follow technical documentation and tentionally false entry in a record that is required to failing to document the work accomplished. be made, kept, or used to show compliance. Recently, we’ve had reports about a job card con - what you do.’ 14 CFR§ 43.13(a) - “Each person performing cerning the serviceability of the fire extinguishers maintenance, alteration, or preventive maintenance on aircraft. on an aircraft, engine, propeller, or appliance shall One step was to check the halon and water extin - use the methods, techniques, and practices pre - guishers in the forward positions. The water extin - Correct! scribed in the current manufacturer's maintenance guishers had been removed from all of the aircraft a How long was the manual missing those two manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness while ago. Unfortunately, the job card was never up - steps? I don’t know. How did it happen? I don’t prepared by its manufacturer, or other methods, dated. know. How many of you changed an A321 main tire techniques, and practices acceptable to the Admin - Some of the reporters believed that all fire extin - assembly without carefully reading the maintenance istrator, except as noted in Sec. 43.16. He shall use guishers are listed and you only had to check the manual? I don’t know, but I’ll bet some of you did. the tools, equipment, and test apparatus necessary to ones that were installed on the aircraft. Wrong. If a task cannot be accomplished exactly as writ - assure completion of the work in accordance with Another just wrote on the job card what was ac - ten due to technical documentation, tooling, parts or accepted industry practices. If special equipment or complished on that step, stamped it off and made the whatever, an Engineering Authorization is required. test apparatus is recommended by the manufacturer entry that the card was accomplished. Again, wrong. The last report I’ll address was the checking of involved, he must use that equipment or apparatus Another short-signed the steps, leaving the water the expiration date of a fire extinguisher during a or its equivalent acceptable to the Administrator.” extinguisher open. Again, wrong. weekly check. Actually, it was 20 reports from If you find paperwork that is outdated, let your While changing an A321 main tire assembly, the across the system spread out over approximately six Lead know or file an ASAP report so it can be mechanics noticed something wrong with the main - months. changed. I cannot stress enough the importance of tenance manual. It was missing two important steps, Think about that for a minute. This was 20 differ - not just following the paperwork but actually read - 4C and 4D, which entailed installing the wheel with ent mechanics from all over the system who went ing and adhering to it. the axle nut, torquing the axle nut and safety wiring out to the plane, looked at the extinguisher and So now we have a new adage: “Say what you the axle nut. Since the maintenance manual was stamped the card saying it was serviceable. mean, mean what you say, and sign for what you wrong, the mechanics asked for and were issued an Was the FAA pissed? They were and rightfully do.” Engineering Authorization (EA) for the tire change. so. Questions were raised, but in the end an expired Stay safe! Beware of misinformation spread through social media

s union members, you’ve probably heard their frustration into out - motives described in conspiracy theories. from your union rep and read in the pages rageous claims about the Our members who interact with the public every of this newsletter to “not spread misinfor - origin of the virus and its day are facing untold stress because they don’t know A mation.” continued spread. if their next customer is someone who respects the It’s a common reminder when the union is nego - Such dangerous theo - advice of medical experts or someone who will will - tiating a contract on your behalf. We need a united ries used to be relegated ingly put their health and the health of others at risk. front to secure the best contract possible, and when to the dark corners of the The incredible rise of social media as the primary lies and half-truths are floating around on the work Internet or laughed off as news source for millions of Americans has had many floor and in break rooms, fodder for tabloid news - positive effects, such as the inclusion of previously it only serves to weaken papers. But in 2020 they neglected voices in the national conversation. But and divide us. have real-world implications. social media still has much to learn from the old It’s damaging enough ways of gathering and disseminating news, such as when lies are spread Rising tension research, reliable sourcing and taking responsibility throughout a terminal. It Michael Hiltzik, a Pulitzer Prize-winning business for published content. gets even worse when columnist for the Los Angeles Times , described in a “The defense of pandering to ignorance in the they’ve spread unchecked recent column how social media elevates misinfor - name of informational ‘balance’ is an old stunt that across the entire country. mation simply by the speed at which it presents it, depends on portraying disagreements as ‘controver - That is the unfortunate unfiltered, to the reader. sies’ even when situation we’re in now. Social media across all plat - “The speed with which this material can reach the no real contro - forms are overrun with conspiracy theories contain - public makes a mockery of the old saying about how versy exists,” ing misinformation and lies. The corporations that a lie can get halfway around the world before the Hiltzik wrote. own these powerful platforms have displayed an in - truth can get its boots on,” he wrote. “Today, a lie We must re - ability — and, at times, unwillingness — to confront can metastasize throughout the global body politic main vigilant this problem. before the truth can even get out of bed.” when choosing Many of these conspiracies have come to main - When these lies go unchecked by social media our news sources and let the facts guide us through stream attention as the United States continues to companies and, even worse, are amplified by the cur - these uncertain times. In doing so, we will take better lack a unified response to the coronavirus pandemic. rent president and his supporters, it causes tension care of ourselves and each other. In the absence of a coordinated approach from the across the country. Viral videos abound of people current administration, some Americans have put causing public disturbances over their refusal to wear their trust in unproven “miracle cures” or channeled doctor-recommended face masks because of sinister — President and Directing Chair Dave Supplee Page 8 District Lodge 142 OBSERVER Summer 2020

United Airlines to end its ties with ExpressJet n July 30, United Airlines announced it has decided to end its contract with ExpressJet and transfer the carrier’s operations to fellow OUnited Express affiliate CommutAir. CommutAir will become the sole operator of ’ Embraer ERJ-145 fleet. At press time, the company plans to furlough every flight attendant on the seniority list as of Sep - tember 30, 2020 and ExpressJet hasn't finalized its closure. District Lodge 142 represents approximately 900 ExpressJet members across the country. United said it intends to continue its United Ex - press flights using its CommutAir affiliate and will employ approximately 200 Flight Attendants who are members of IAM District Lodge 142. “ExpressJet has been through a lot over the years,” said General Chair Sara Gonzales, who worked for ExpressJet for 15 years. “We’ve had dozens of base closures over the past decade,” she said. “La Guardia closed and someone living in New York would be out of a job in New York and told their new hub is and you have to show up for work. Flight attendants were left won - dering ‘Should I move to Houston?’ only to find out the following week that the Houston hub may close.” Photo: Paul Robbins History of turbulence “To say our history has been turbulent is an un - derstatement,” Gonzales said. ExpressJet formed in 1986 from three carriers — Bar , and Rocky Moun - tain Airways — to fly for . Ex - pressJet spun off in 2002 and was no longer totally owned by Continental. In 2007, the airline began point-to-point services under its own name, selling tickets with the Express - Jet name, from locations throughout the United States. The airline had a total of 42 aircraft in its branded operation. “This was a promising prospect, but unfortunately jet fuel prices skyrocketed and it didn’t work out,” Gonzales recalled. “In 2008, they closed the doors on ExpressJet but we still worked for Continental.” Above: ExpressJet delegates to the 2019 Biennial District Lodge 142 Convention ExpressJet then began to fly for United Express, and in 2007-2008 it flew for Delta Connection as well, out of Los Angeles. low,” Gonzales said. “ExpressJet has many long- protections. We got our members 4 months of pay In 2010, ExpressJet signed on more aircraft with term employees with 20-30 years in the industry.” when they all could have been unemployed. United and merged with Atlantic Southeast Airlines, “The members at ExpressJet have been real “Through all the changes we’ve seen these past a subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc., keeping the ExpressJet troupers,” Grievance Representative Marche John - few months, the only stability we have is through the name. son-Cooper said. union contract.” “We were hoping for a huge thing with that “It’s been a roller coaster ride for all of us. We Johnson-Cooper said that even when members merger and we continued to try to negotiate a con - think we’re going to have more flying, then we’re aren’t thinking about it, they are protected by the tract for our Flight Attendant members who also flew not, then something else is closing. union. for American Airlines,” Gonzales said. “We can now retire or go into furlough status and In late 2010, ExpressJet signed a multiple-year ‘Almost like a death in the family’ still have protections, thanks to the union contract,” contract with United Airlines for 22 ERJ-145 aircraft. she said. The aircraft were flown for the first time in full “This seems like the last and final blow, almost “Being union is solidarity and all of us working United Express colors. Additionally, 10 more ERJ- like a death in the family.” together for common a goal. We don’t always get 145s in ExpressJet colors operated for United during “We have members who have stayed and endured everything we want and have to learn to make com - the peak summer travel season in 2010. The first with the company and remained on furlough hoping promises, but we are all better off because of the flights under this new contract started Dec. 1, 2009. to have a job to come back to,” said Johnson-Cooper, union.” and all 22 aircraft were in United Express service by who has been with ExpressJet for more than 20 “We’re going to get through this,” Gonzales said. spring in 2010. years. “They love the company and wanted Express - “Keep supporting each other and keep your eyes Throughout the following decade, dozens of hubs Jet to succeed.” open with legislative affairs. What we do as a union for ExpressJet closed. Johnson-Cooper said that many ExpressJet people has a real impact.” American Airlines terminated its contract with Ex - will have the opportunity to retire now, thanks to the When ExpressJet is no longer flying, it will join pressJet in May 2018. As a result, ExpressJet ceased union. other air carriers, including Compass Airlines, Trans to operate American Eagle flights as of 2019. “We have so much value as a retiree, the IAM free States Airlines and RavnAir, that have closed since “Just last year, United purchased 49% of Express - college and Union Plus,” she said. “Those who make the beginning of the pandemic. Jet from American Airlines and had big plans to in - the choice to retire, are able to receive their IAM re - The transition to CommutAir is expected to take vest millions into ExpressJet, refurbishing the fleet,” tiree cards, become a part of the IAMAW Retiree Ed - several months. After the transition, United will op - Gonzales continued. “They had plans of having us ucation Strategy Program, we have the opportunity erate with six regional affiliates: Air Wisconsin, be a regional carrier, and then COVID-19 hit and to volunteer and give back to their union.” CommutAir, GoJet Airlines, , Republic everything changed.” “It’s not the perfect outcome we wanted,” Gonza - Airline and SkyWest Airlines. In the end, United chose to go with only one ERJ- les said. “We can’t control company decisions, but Airline travel is at roughly half of 2019’s passen - 145 carrier — CommutAir. the airline industry has always been turbulent.” ger numbers, according to United, and is anticipated “We are proud to represent the members at Com - “The union provides the only shred of stability,” to remain at that level until a vaccine is developed mutAir, but at the same time it’s a hard pill to swal - she continued. “As a union, we lobbied for payroll for COVID-19.