Judge Finds for Mesaba Flight Attendants

A U.S. judge Thursday tossed out a court decision giving Mesaba Airlines the right to impose unilaterally a new labor contract on flight attendants.

U.S. District Judge Michael Davis issued the ruling in response to an appeal by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. Mesaba management had threatened to impose a 19.4-percent wage-and-benefit cut, which would have reduced the annual income of some Mesaba flight attendants to less than $10,000, after paying for insurance benefits, the union said.

The airline, however, noted that Davis affirmed its need for a 19.4-percent labor cost reduction over a 6-year period and that its business plan required an 8-percent profit margin.

While we are disappointed with Judge Davis’ decision and will review all of our legal options to address his concerns, we are committed to successfully restructuring this company, said John Spanjers, Mesaba Airlines president.

Mesaba is a feeder carrier for Northwest Airlines.