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Northwest recruiting replacement flight attendants
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Northwest Airlines appears to have begun recruiting
people to work as flight attendants in the event of a labor dispute or
strike, according to a published report.
A job listing on Monster.com encourages candidates to apply by June 12 for a
training program to become a certified flight attendant with the airline,
the Star Tribune first reported Monday night. The job description, placed by
a recruitment firm called Spherion, states that people who finish the
training program "may be offered employment in the event of a labor dispute
or strike."
Bob Krabbe, an official with the Professional Flight Attendants Association,
said Monday that Northwest is engaging in a campaign of "intimidation and
fear" by recruiting replacement flight attendants.
"What perplexes PFAA is that the company wants us to bargain with them,
wants us to have trust in them, yet they are making secret contingency plans
to train thousands of flight attendants," he said.
Northwest, which is negotiating contracts with three of its four largest
unions, is demanding $1.1 billion in annual labor savings.
Last month, Internet recruitment ads surfaced for replacement mechanics who
were being offered $32 an hour, paid housing and a $2,000 bonus. And a
steady stream of stock sales by Northwest's chairman, Gary Wilson, has some
employees worried that the airline is preparing to file for bankruptcy if it
doesn't get what it sees as timely relief from its labor costs.
Northwest, in a statement, defended the recruiting of replacement workers.
"Northwest is aware of significant strike planning activity underway at
several of its unions," the airline said Monday. "If one of its unions
chooses to strike the carrier or engage in job actions with the intent of
causing disruption at some point in the future, Northwest must be prepared
to protect its operations."
The Eagan-based airline denied that it has added mechanics to its employee
payroll, but companies have been recruiting mechanics who want to work for a
major airline in the Twin Cities.
The flight attendants union was in mediated contract negotiations with
Northwest on Monday in Detroit. Krabbe said the PFAA would notify its
members about the replacement workers' development.
"The first thing we are going to do is tell our members that they should not
be frightened by the company's attempts to scare them," he said.
Many analysts say Northwest has the highest labor costs in the industry.
Based on its huge pension obligations, large fuel costs and high labor
costs, analysts have concluded that Northwest cannot sustain its current
operations.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Northwest Airlines appears to have begun recruiting
people to work as flight attendants in the event of a labor dispute or
strike, according to a published report.
A job listing on Monster.com encourages candidates to apply by June 12 for a
training program to become a certified flight attendant with the airline,
the Star Tribune first reported Monday night. The job description, placed by
a recruitment firm called Spherion, states that people who finish the
training program "may be offered employment in the event of a labor dispute
or strike."
Bob Krabbe, an official with the Professional Flight Attendants Association,
said Monday that Northwest is engaging in a campaign of "intimidation and
fear" by recruiting replacement flight attendants.
"What perplexes PFAA is that the company wants us to bargain with them,
wants us to have trust in them, yet they are making secret contingency plans
to train thousands of flight attendants," he said.
Northwest, which is negotiating contracts with three of its four largest
unions, is demanding $1.1 billion in annual labor savings.
Last month, Internet recruitment ads surfaced for replacement mechanics who
were being offered $32 an hour, paid housing and a $2,000 bonus. And a
steady stream of stock sales by Northwest's chairman, Gary Wilson, has some
employees worried that the airline is preparing to file for bankruptcy if it
doesn't get what it sees as timely relief from its labor costs.
Northwest, in a statement, defended the recruiting of replacement workers.
"Northwest is aware of significant strike planning activity underway at
several of its unions," the airline said Monday. "If one of its unions
chooses to strike the carrier or engage in job actions with the intent of
causing disruption at some point in the future, Northwest must be prepared
to protect its operations."
The Eagan-based airline denied that it has added mechanics to its employee
payroll, but companies have been recruiting mechanics who want to work for a
major airline in the Twin Cities.
The flight attendants union was in mediated contract negotiations with
Northwest on Monday in Detroit. Krabbe said the PFAA would notify its
members about the replacement workers' development.
"The first thing we are going to do is tell our members that they should not
be frightened by the company's attempts to scare them," he said.
Many analysts say Northwest has the highest labor costs in the industry.
Based on its huge pension obligations, large fuel costs and high labor
costs, analysts have concluded that Northwest cannot sustain its current
operations.
