Judge blocks strike at Mesaba

[Stallion]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/061023/mesaba_labor.html?.v=3

Judge Blocks Strike Against Mesaba
Monday October 23, 11:25 pm ET
By Joshua Freed, AP Business Writer Judge Blocks Threatened Strike at Mesaba Aviation

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A bankruptcy judge on Monday blocked a strike by unions at Mesaba Aviation Inc., clearing the way for the feeder for Northwest Airlines Corp. to impose pay cuts later this week.
Mesaba, which has been reorganizing under bankruptcy protection for a year, had said a strike would probably put it out of business.
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On Monday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Gregory Kishel agreed.
Bankruptcy Judge Gregory Kishel enjoined Mesaba's pilots, flight attendants and mechanics from encouraging, permitting or taking any type of work stoppage action, including a strike, "sick-out, slow-down or other concerted refusal to perform normal employment duties."
His decision leaves Mesaba free to cut employee pay on Thursday without fear of a crippling work stoppage. Mesaba had said previously that a walkout would kill the airline.
Mesaba has said it needs the pay cuts so it can compete with other regional carriers for business from Northwest. It has been backed into a corner by a combination of its fear of a strike if it makes cuts unilaterally, and a threat by its creditors to liquidate the company if it doesn't achieve those cuts.
Mesaba's pilots, flight attendants and mechanics argued in court last week that the grave consequences of a potential strike don't mean it should be blocked. They cited the Norris-LaGuardia Act, a piece of labor law that they argued generally bars judges from blocking strikes, even when the nation's transportation system is threatened.
Mesaba argued that Kishel could block a strike that would violate the Railway Labor Act, as they said this one would. Mesaba, a unit of MAIR Holdings Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection in October 2005, about a month after Northwest -- its only major customer -- did the same thing. The carrier once boasted a fleet of roughly 100 aircraft, including regional jets, but Northwest has slashed that to 49 prop-driven Saabs. Mesaba flies to about 86 cities, funneling passengers into Northwest hubs in Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis.

 

[FmrFreightDog]

Here we go......... Good luck guys and girls.

 

[MALSR]

Minneapolis StarTribune:

A bankruptcy judge on Monday blocked a strike by unions at Mesaba Aviation Inc., clearing the way for the feeder for Northwest Airlines Corp. to impose pay cuts later this week. Mesaba, which has been reorganizing under bankruptcy protection for a year, had said a strike would probably put it out of business.
On Monday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Gregory Kishel agreed.
Bankruptcy Judge Gregory Kishel enjoined Mesaba's pilots, flight attendants and mechanics from encouraging, permitting or taking any type of work stoppage action, including a strike, "sick-out, slow-down or other concerted refusal to perform normal employment duties."
His decision leaves Mesaba free to cut employee pay on Thursday without fear of a crippling work stoppage. Mesaba had said previously that a walkout would kill the airline.
Mesaba has said it needs the pay cuts so it can compete with other regional carriers for business from Northwest. It has been backed into a corner by a combination of its fear of a strike if it makes cuts unilaterally, and a threat by its creditors to liquidate the company if it doesn't achieve those cuts.
Mesaba's pilots, flight attendants and mechanics argued in court last week that the grave consequences of a potential strike don't mean it should be blocked. They cited the Norris-LaGuardia Act, a piece of labor law that they argued generally bars judges from blocking strikes, even when the nation's transportation system is threatened.
Mesaba argued that Kishel could block a strike that would violate the Railway Labor Act, as they said this one would.
Mesaba, a unit of MAIR Holdings Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection in October 2005, about a month after Northwest — its only major customer — did the same thing. The carrier once boasted a fleet of roughly 100 aircraft, including regional jets, but Northwest has slashed that to 49 prop-driven Saabs. Mesaba flies to about 86 cities, funneling passengers into Northwest hubs in Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis.

 

[copcar1988]

This is the biggest B*llSh*t ever!! Now any company that's in bankruptcy can impose any wage cut they want without the fear of a strike! I wonder how far this will set labor back.

 

[Espalda Mojado]

For every pilot who quits, there will be 10 CFIs ready to take his place.

 

[millhouse21]

I expect any company that can form a holding company to send all the money will now do that and then declare bankruptcy. I mean, why not? You still have the $$$$ and can get whatever you want from the judge. What a bunch of cr@p. Good luck you guys.

 

[W&BWiz]

It'll get overturned. The next judge like Davis will overturn it because he won't give a flying leap who pohlad is. There is no way this will just stay status quo.

 

[ricecake]

the 900s are on the way!

 

[noonan]

Sadly Espalda you are right. All we can hope is they're hot.

Can't wait to get my hands on that crj900 by the end of the week!

 

[gnx99]

If management gets a nice bonus for "bringing this company out of bankruptcy" with all their "hard work", I'm gonna throw up.