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Northwest Airlines, Mechanics Union Will Resume Talks Amid Strike Preparations

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 July 2005, 00:00 CDT

Jul. 27--Negotiators for Northwest Airlines and its mechanics union are scheduled to resume contract talks next week in Washington, and while both sides express hopes for success, the process of preparing for failure continues.

Meanwhile, federal regulators say they've stepped up oversight of the airline's maintenance operation as talk of replacing striking mechanics intensifies.

The National Mediation Board called the two sides together for four days of talks beginning Aug. 2, the first negotiations since the board declared an impasse and launched a 30-day countdown to a possible strike that ends 11:01 p.m. Aug. 19.

Northwest wants $176 million in wage and other givebacks from its mechanics union as part of its effort to cut annual labor costs by $1.1 billion. The union says it has offered a package of cuts worth some $140 million; Northwest maintains the union's offer is worth about half that.

"Unless they have a counter proposal to that, I see very little reason to meet actually," said Steve MacFarlane, assistant national director to the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.

Northwest Chief Executive Doug Steenland reiterated during an earnings conference call Tuesday that the airline's priority is to reach an agreement. But that it is prepared to fly through a strike.

The airline said it spent $20 million in the second quarter to train replacement mechanics -- and replacement flight attendants in case members of that union refuse to cross mechanics' picket lines.

The frosty labor relations climate has drawn the attention of the Federal Aviation Administration. The agency has stepped up its inspections of maintenance work and is paying close attention to the labor situation, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

"We go onsite a variety of times throughout the day," said Elizabeth Isham Cory, an FAA spokeswoman based in Chicago. "We look at records, talk to people. We listen. We examine issues involving the labor work force."

Northwest maintains that highly-trained mechanics are in plentiful supply after mass layoffs in the last few years shrunk their ranks at major airlines. In addition to licensed managers, the airline plans to hire contract technicians and use third-party vendors to replace the striking mechanics.

"There are large numbers of very experienced and very skilled technicians who are eager to get back into the business, who want to come back and work for an airline," Steenland said on Tuesday's conference call.

Northwest also has recalled furloughed flight attendants, asked others to cancel vacations and leaves and hired additional flight attendants that the airline could bring on board "in the event that there is some disruption in that area," Steenland said.

He said he expects the flight attendants will report to work as usual. He said the their contract does not allow them to participate in a sympathy strike and "flight attendant union leaders have acknowledged it would be impossible for such an undertaking to take place."

Meanwhile, mechanics union officials are busy this week getting permits to picket at three dozen airports across the country. Union officials also were preparing to mail out strike assignments union members. Each will be asked to picket on four-hour shifts every other day during a strike, said Ted Ludwig, president of AMFA Local 33.

The union plans to conduct three informational meetings for members today at a Holiday Inn in Bloomington. "It's good to let them know that we have things under control, we are moving in the right direction and to update them as to what we know," Ludwig said.

Mediated talks are scheduled between the two groups from Aug. 2-5.

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NWAC,

Source: Saint Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.)

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