Dear NJI Flight Attendants,
Today, Teamsters Local 284 placed ballots in the mail to all NJA flight attendants for ratification of the NJA-NJI Integration Letter of Agreement (LOA). Ballots will be counted by Local 284 beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET on August 25, 2010. If you are in Columbus, feel free to stop by Local 284’s offices to introduce yourself and to observe the count. The Local Union is located at 555 East Rich Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
As we have previously indicated, the LOA has been unanimously endorsed by the entire Flight Attendant Executive Council. Since the LOA makes changes to the NJA-IBT Collective Bargaining Agreement (which does not yet apply to you), however, only Union members at NJA are eligible to vote on the LOA. Nonetheless, we are strongly urging every member of the Union to cast their vote in favor of the LOA because it is fair for NJA flight attendants, it is fair for NJI flight attendants and its contains short and long term benefits for all NetJets flight attendants. We are confident that this LOA is going to be ratified and that you are going to have the protections that you need during the integration process and beyond!
After the LOA is ratified, we will be in an ideal position to start negotiations on amendments to the NJA flight attendant collective bargaining agreement that will apply to you on the same day that the NJA pilot agreement applies to NJI pilots, which must be on or before November 21, 2010. We will not wait until that date, however, to get NJI flight attendants involved in the negotiation process. Following ratification, we will survey flight attendants, develop bargaining proposals addressing a wide-range of issues, inform management that we are ready to begin negotiations and task our Negotiating Committee with bargaining hard for the improvements you deserve. Three NJI flight attendants along with three NJA flight attendants will be on that Negotiating Committee. After the LOA is ratified, the combine group of NetJets flight attendants will have significant bargaining power as a united group. When we are in contract negotiations, we can use that bargaining power to address contract issues and remaining integration issues not addressed in the LOA.
In order to get NJI flight attendants involved in negotiations as soon as possible following ratification of the LOA, we have established a timetable for accepting Teamster Membership Applications from NJI flight attendants and for holding elections for NJI representatives to the Negotiating Committee as well as to the FAEC. That schedule is as follows:
- NJI Teamster Membership Applications May Be Submitted Beginning: August 25, 2010
- NJI Nominations May Be Submitted For Negotiating Committee (NC): September 2, 2010 through September 15, 2010
- NJI Nominations May Be Submitted For FAEC: September 2, 2010 through September 15, 2001
- Verification of Nominee Eligibility and Notice of Elections/Candidates Sent to NJI members: September 16, 2009
- Ballots for NC and FAEC Positions Sent to NJI members: September 17, 2009
- Ballots Counted for NC and FAEC Positions: October 8, 2010
In the coming weeks, we will provide you with more detailed information on how to become a Teamster member and how to both nominate and run for Negotiating Committee and FAEC positions.
We will also continue to keep you informed on the progress of the LOA ratification. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or any other member of the FAEC.