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NWA to Continue GF Flights Through Strike

Posted on: Monday, 19 September 2005, 03:01 CDT

Northwest Airline flights in and out of Grand Forks International Airport would continue even if airline mechanics strike later this month, a company spokesperson said Monday.

Northwest in Grand Forks handles 10 daily flights, five departures and five arrivals. Four of those flights in and out of Grand Forks are operated by Mesaba Airlines, an affiliate of Northwest, said Kurt Ebenhoch, media relations director for Northwest.

James Schafer, a Mesaba representative for the Aircraft Mechanic Fraternal Association, a union that represents airline technicians and related employees, said Mesaba will maintain all of its routes if a strike breaks.

Northwest mechanics can strike after 12,01 a.m. Aug. 20.

Ebenhoch said the airline hopes to reach "a consensual agreement" with AMFA before the deadline.

AMFA representatives said they also want to reach a deal, but mechanics walked away from talks last week because management continued to press for $176 million in cutbacks.

"Northwest is doing absolutely nothing to indicate they want an agreement" AMFA assistant national director Steve MacFarlane said Sunday.

Northwest is prepared to implement a contingency plan that would allow it to maintain a full schedule in Grand Forks and other service areas if talks don't move forward, Ebenhoch said.

Champion Air, a Minneapolisbased charter operator with a fleet of 16 Boeing 727-200s, could pick up Northwest flights if AMFA mechanics go on strike.

Northwest has been arranging with contractors and replacement workers to work on its planes. But the possible arrangement with charter carrier Champion is the first time Northwest has acknowledged that it might shift flights to another car carrier.

Flying with Champion planes and pilots would antagonize Northwest's pilots union, which has already taken cuts and urged other airline workers to do the same.

Using Champion pilots to operate Northwest flights would be "a clear violation of our contract" said Mark McClain, chairman of the pilots union.

He said the pilots union contract allows Northwest to use Champion for chatter flights, but requires scheduled service flights to be flown by Northwest pilots.

Champion and Northwest pilots are both represented by the Air Line Pilots Association.

Champion spokesman Jon Austin said the airline has discussed contingency flying with Northwest, but he said no decision had been made.

Northwest has no maintenance operations or mechanics in Grand Forks, Ebenhoch said.

Copyright Grand Forks Herald Inc. Aug 09, 2005

Source: Grand Forks Herald

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