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AMFA Gives Northwest Airlines Management No Confidence Vote As Shortage of Mechanics Fuels Delays, Cancellations

Posted on: Monday, 2 July 2007, 12:17 CDT

Members of AMFA (Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association) working for Northwest Airlines received the following letter today, after the union's National Executive Council approved a no confidence vote in the carrier's executive team. AMFA Local 33, Bloomington, Minn., serves AMFA-represented Northwest employees nationwide.

Dear AMFA members at Northwest Airlines,

Your local leadership continues to be concerned by the progressive degradation of operations at NWA. We have known for multiple months now that the Executive Management Team (EMT) has been running the carrier on ultra lean, expecting their employees to continue to do more with less. This has resulted in continued low morale and near burnout conditions.

No one should be surprised that an airline that once employed 8,000 experienced technicians and currently employs 800 would be unable to consistently provide reliable scheduled service. The flight cancellations that recently caused NWA's stock to drop are certainly being caused by the shortage of pilots, but another contributing factor is the highly stressed maintenance department.

AMFA-represented employees have sacrificed way too much to just sit by and watch NWA management make rookie mistakes. In fact, all NWA employees have made significant life-changing financial concessions to the current EMT based on promises of shared sacrifice and their stated need to retain themselves and their vast knowledge and management experience.

In bankruptcy, the NWA EMT showcased their expertise in stripping the dignity and financial security from their employees. The NWA EMT has also lavishly rewarded themselves with millions in bonuses and stock options, illustrating their prowess at managing their own financial affairs. However, what they have failed to demonstrate pre or post bankruptcy is their ability to successfully manage an airline.

It is with this abysmal history of mismanagement in mind that the AMFA National Executive Council has unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in this management team. Doug Steenland and his management team have significantly harmed the relationship with their employees. We cannot help but question whether this EMT can repair that relationship and return our airline to the operational stability it needs to survive.

We call upon the board of directors to act swiftly in determining whether our airline has the proper leadership in place with the proper vision to return our airline to excellence and profitability once again.

Thank you for your attention and support.

Respectfully,

Ted Ludwig

President, AMFA Local 33

Source: Business Wire

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