Mesaba re-files the 1113c...

[Mesabi Miner]

June 12, 2006
Dear Colleague:
While U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Gregory Kishel denied Mesaba’s initial 1113(c) motion for
authority to reject its labor contracts on May 18, 2006, he recognized the Company’s need to
restructure its labor costs. He also identified steps the Company could take to amend its request
through a renewed motion if bargaining did not result in consensual agreements. Despite
Mesaba’s best efforts, which include submitting revised proposals to each union addressing the
Court-identified issues, Mesaba and its unions have not reached a deal.
Regrettably, we have had no other choice but to resubmit this motion. Mesaba is caught up in a
severe cash crisis that threatens the survival of the company. Northwest Airlines is moving
forward in its reorganization process, and unless Mesaba solves its cost problems its future with
Northwest is at risk.
The actual Renewed 1113(c) Motion is available to you through the court, on
www.MyMesaba.com, or on our restructuring Web site (www.mesaba-restructuring.com).
A hearing date for the motion has been set for June 26, 2006. Up until that day and even
throughout the hearing, we are continuing our efforts to reach negotiated agreements with each
bargaining group. Even at this juncture I hope and I believe we can still reach a mutually
acceptable solution.
If you have any questions about this news, I encourage you to ask your supervisor or manager or
submit a question to Ask Mesaba on www.MyMesaba.com. We will do our best to keep you
informed.
As always, thank you for your attention to the safety and reliability of our flights during this most
challenging time.
Sincerely,
John G. Spanjers
President & COO

 

[mynameisjim]

How many days did they meet in negotiations before they gave up and refiled?

 

[redflyer65]

I especially like how the judge basically gave the company a 'road map' of how to re-file.

I believe that in the company's unparalled push to shread the contracts, the unions will have no other choice than to walk. It will be interesting to see if the judge tries to order them back to work.

The largest charade of this whole thing is how the company is throwing their arms up in the air and talking about a 49 aircraft Saab fleet. In the mean time, they have a whole base of Avro pilots on reserve. For what reason? Not for 49 Saabs, that for sure.

Good luck guys.

 

[MagnoliaAve]

Why didn't they just re-file it the Monday after the first case was decided? It would have just saved time because they were going to do it all along.

 

[wmuflyguy]

Comair did a similiar thing after theirs got overturned.

 

[flyer172r]

Aren't judges supposed to be objective? Why on earth is he giving the company advice on how to re-file the motion. If they can't figure it out themselves they shouldn't be allowed to re-file.

 

[xjhawk]

because the judge, like the rest of our judicial and legislation is pro big business and their goal is to see the company succeed. Even at the expense of making professionals take it up the a$$. Now that said, i will walk myself once i find something (anything) to get my by. i know that no judge can make me work for that crap. who do i go to? oh yes, everyone except mesa makes more than us right now....so the choices are endless.....

for all you fellow XJ ers, please do not say you will leave and shut the company down unless you mean it......How many NWA pilots will admit they voted yes? none, they are all holding their heads low and not admiting to bending over. Lets really shut this place down.....have some balls and admit if you will vote yes to anything those idots will hand you. I for one am not voting yes to almost anything...i have not yet set my final standards...some guys (senior seven year FOs are saying they will vote no if they will get a pay raise!

mine go something like this...
open to PBS even though it would suck
no to ten percent, definately no to 19.4!
maybe 5 percent,
no to their rediculous health care package
any other ideas?

 

[Longhorn]

Guys...good luck. What management there is doing is beyond morally wrong. I still dont get how they can finance their own bankruptcy? I hope you all come out on top in this, you deserve it.

 

[belchfire]

I wonder if the court suggested that they scale back management costs...

 

[kmox29]

for all you fellow XJ ers, please do not say you will leave and shut the company down unless you mean it......

I left. My only regret is that I did not get to leave under a massive walkout. F this management team. Good luck to you guys.

I'm not flying for a living anymore. I got a job with a company that actually cares about its employees. They value their longevity. No more working weekends, overnights in dumpy hotels, being gone on holidays, vacation cancellations, junior mans, extensions, 130 degree Saabs...

This industry will take YEARS to recover from all the concessionary TAs signed at both the regional and major levels.

 

[CubanSmoker]

We will miss you Kmox! Good luck on your new gig. It sounds like a good company. I will always fondly remember how you roasted Spanky on the company wide conference call. Feel free to call back in and do it again on the next one (if there ever is one).

Cheers

 

[kmox29]

We will miss you Kmox! Good luck on your new gig. It sounds like a good company.

I'm really going to miss you folks at XJ. I know I've said it before, but the most professional dedicated group of people I know are XJ crews.

I will always fondly remember how you roasted Spanky on the company wide conference call.

Oddly enough, I think that was the highlight of my airline career. I get warm fuzzies just thinking about it

 

[5ontheglide]

!

Good Luck KMox! Thanks for your stand!

-furloughed

 

[schmitty340]

Good luck Kmox. Hopefuly I'm close behind you.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Yeah, like Kmox, I bolted... The grass is definitely greener...

 

[John Pennekamp]

Yeah... XJ is in a "cash crisis" because management siphoned off all the cash to MAIR to pay for the BigSky debacle. Where's the Enron jury and prosecutor when you need them?

Good luck, y'all.

 

[YourPilotFriend]

Many of you guys are experiencing aviation trouble for the first time, but I can tell you it has been this way for many years. Since deregulation it has been a continuous slide, the only greener pasture is the one on the outside of aviation. I have seen it all too many times, and what is happening to you guys, eventually happens to everyone. Even the best aviation carriers can't avoid the sliding market rates. I caution people going to SWA all the time because their principle investors are seeking a 30-40% paycut out of them by 2009-2010 to keep their competitive edge and keep their ROI similar to what is has been.

 

[N590MA]

Management can do what they think they have to, to survive. I've reached my end with this place awhile ago and am trying to get out of here(like just about everybody else). If I can leave on my own terms, giddy up! If I leave because we walk out and shut xj down giddy up! Either way I'm outta here as soon as I can. I've still got some of my strike fund from the contract deal in the bank so I say let management try to impose 19.4% and let see what happens.

As always, they can kiss my spanky!

 

[Crizz]

Isnt it amazing BigSky got a bunch of "new" 1900s last year... where did the money to pay for those come from? Did they pay cash from MAIR's pocket? What a great cash shelter! Its almost like they planned all this...

 

[gojo]

It's not like they almost planned all of this. They have been planning this for quite some time. Why do you think the contract increases were towards the end of the contract? Maybe because they never intended to follow through with it?