UPS Pilots Will Not Haul Northwest Airlines Struck Goods
Tuesday August 16, 12:39 pm ET
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Independent Pilots Association,
UPS pilots union, has told UPS that they will refuse to fly Northwest
Airlines struck goods. The IPA informed UPS of its position in anticipation
of a possible strike by the mechanics at NWA, which could occur as early as
this Friday.
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"The Independent Pilots Association is strongly committed to the principle
of solidarity with our fellow transportation industry workers. As such, we
will refuse to fly any struck goods should a strike or lock-out occur at
Northwest Airlines involving their airline mechanics," said IPA President
Capt. Tom Nicholson.
He went on to say, "NWA has an extensive cargo operation and is now actively
in the market attempting to line-up aircraft and carriers to provide airlift
to dodge the effects of a strike. We have told UPS that we will refuse to
haul any struck goods placed on our airplanes. UPS pilots have the
contractual right to refuse to move airplanes containing struck goods. We
will simply set the parking brakes on any UPS plane containing NWA struck
goods."
Due to the simmering labor dispute at NWA, IPA Crewmembers have refused to
be transported on NWA since August 5. As a result, UPS has rescheduled its
pilots to other commercial carriers.
"This simple act of refusing to deadhead on NWA has had a significant impact
on the carrier given that more than 40% of the flights in the current bid
package were deadheads on Northwest," said Capt. Nicholson.
