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Judge blocks strike at Mesaba

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Stallion

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Joined
Feb 12, 2002
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22
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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!
 
If management gets a nice bonus for "bringing this company out of bankruptcy" with all their "hard work", I'm gonna throw up.
 
Now I wonder how long it will take for Pinnacle to go even lower.
 
I guess I've supersized my last meal for a while.
 
With the wages you all are making or are probably going to make why not just all quit on a set date and go sell cars or something. You will make more money and have a life again. That is what I would do, they are treating you guys horrible and this judge needs to step down he has no sense of what you are experiencing he makes six figures a year with a very nice retirement plan that you are paying for. This industry will never get better only worse because we as pilots have zero backbone, status quo or whatever it is called. Good luck guys I say you all kick them in the nuts as hard as possible.
 
I'm just guessing, but I forecast more writeups at outstations.... especially ones where a mechanic has to drive 2-3 hours to the airport.
 
I hesitate to bring it up, but what would happen if the MSA MEC defied the injunction and called a strike anyway? Contempt of court, I assume. MEC goes to jail, maybe, for a few days. Can't put all the pilots in jail. It would only take a few days to bring the company to its knees, everyone goes back to work (or company liquidates, putting an end to this travesty), MEC members are heroes.

Just a thought.

(Before anyone goes crazy, I know it's easier said (from the outside looking in) than done.)
 
I'm just guessing, but I forecast more writeups at outstations.... especially ones where a mechanic has to drive 2-3 hours to the airport.



The question is why aren't you doing that NOW? If it's broken write it up wherever it is and let your company deal with it.
 
Hello, freedom? Civil Rights? Helllooooo, are you out there?

Say what you will about Michael Moore, he got one thing right when he named his film:

"DUDE, WHERE'S MY COUNTRY?"

This is NOT the America I grew up in.


Jesus F*cking X......
 
The New York transit workers struck illegally. No one went to jail. The union just had to pay big fines. If you all stick together and strike anyway, you will probably lose your jobs, but might actually help the profession. I am not in your shoes. Best of luck. I would personally quit on my own just to get out of the situation. Actually, I would quit at an outstation, jumpseat home, then tell the company.
 
This is a very dangerous precedent to set for everyone in
the airline industry. Right now, the unions mean NOTHING
and we are completely at the mercy of the company to
decide what they want to pay us. No bargaining necessary,
because the company will impose as needed to undercut
the last company in the race to the bottom.

Expect ALPA to fight it, but this was a huge loss for labor
everywhere in the airline industry.
 
Labor has no bargaining power. Until a pilot group sacrifices its jobs, we have no power. Management knows we will not strike. They put court orders against us and call our bluff. Until we put a real fear of shutting the airlines down, they will pay us what they feel like, and we will work for it. Why? Because most of us like to fly. The more I think about this, the more upset I get, and I do not even work for Mesaba. I understand that this will affect me eventually long term. This will affect all of us eventually.
 
Labor has no bargaining power. Until a pilot group sacrifices its jobs, we have no power. Management knows we will not strike. They put court orders against us and call our bluff. Until we put a real fear of shutting the airlines down, they will pay us what they feel like, and we will work for it. Why? Because most of us like to fly. The more I think about this, the more upset I get, and I do not even work for Mesaba. I understand that this will affect me eventually long term. This will affect all of us eventually.

You're right.

Sadly, another gutless legal turd who exists in the hip pocket of "business" looks the other way on his ethical responsibilities for whatevedr reason...........cash comes to mind.

Whomever stays at Mesaba under those conditions desrves his/her pay/benfefits (loose term).

The only decision now is to continue to exist on your knees or send a message that self respect demands you walk away on your feet.

The Mesaba scumbags are now holding their breath to see if they dominate and own the lost souls in those uniforms.

The next week will determine if those souls are doomed to purgatory or have the courage and fortitude to move toward the light.

For EVERY pilot there, this is THE moment in your career that will follow YOU (not outside you, but inside) forever.

Abused victim or determined survivor...............that's the choice.
 

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