ExpressJet Flight Attendants Vote ‘Yes’ for Machinists Union

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 desire.

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 AFACWA
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.