NWA to divert flights if struck
Pilots union says it would violate contract
By Jane Roberts
Contact
August 9, 2005
To fly through a possible mechanics strike this month, Northwest Airlines has made plans to divert traffic to Minnesota-based Champion Airlines, giving away flights guaranteed its own pilots.
According to a confidential Northwest memo leaked to the media over the weekend, Northwest passengers out of Minneapolis and Detroit could be shifted to Champion flights to Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth and Las Vegas.
While Northwest would not comment on specifics Monday, spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said Champion "is one of the many options we use today and may use as part of our contingency plan" to serve customers.
Champion, based in Bloomington -- a Minneapolis suburb -- has 16 Boeing 727s, according to its Web site. It flies charter flights for professional and college teams, the Department of Defense and tour companies.
Champion did not return a phone call.
Northwest pilots were told of the plans two weeks ago, said Hal Myers, spokesman for the Northwest division of the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents both Northwest and Champion pilots.
"Based on what we understand the company is interested in doing, we believe it would constitute a violation of our contract," he said. "We are evaluating our options."
Northwest may use outside vendors to fly charter flights, but its contract with its pilots guarantees they fly all scheduled service.
"It is surprising that Northwest would anger it pilots at this stage of the game," said Steve MacFarlane, national assistant director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents 5,000 mechanics and aircraft cleaners.
The pilots have already given $265 million in annual concessions and have asked Northwest's other unions to comply.
On July 20, AMFA members voted 92.4 percent in favor of a strike, setting off a 30-day cooling-off period before a strike that would begin at 11:01 p.m. Aug. 19.
NWA has repeatedly said it intends to fly its complete schedule through a possible AMFA strike this summer using salaried staff and replacement workers the carrier has been recruiting and training throughout the summer.
"The fact that Northwest is considering Champion certainly illustrates they don't have as much confidence in their plan as they say," MacFarlane said. "We find it rather interesting, that Northwest feels they need to do this."
Northwest wants AMFA to accept a contract that would eliminate 53 percent of its jobs and require pay cuts from the remainder. It has told the union it needs $176 million in annual reductions.
The union has offered temporary cuts it values at $143.5 million. Northwest says they are worth only $87 million.
Last week, AMFA pulled out of emergency talks called by the National Mediation Board in Washington when Northwest failed to make a counteroffer, it said.
The sides have been negotiating since September 2004.
Registered Airframe and Powerplant mechanics here and across the country have received job solicitations this summer from Texas-based AVTECHS, recruiting for a "regional airline based in Tennessee, Michigan and Minnesota," said Sam Ellis, president of the local Northwest machinists union here.
"They're offering $32 a hour, plus hotel expenses and a $2,000 signing bonus with 40 hours guaranteed," he said.
Ellis received a solicitation last week and said several other airport employees not in the mechanics union had too.
Northwest has 50 to 60 mechanics in Memphis, earning about $37 an hour.
AMFA plans to take its cause "to the street," MacFarlane said. "We are going to strike the carrier and force it to back off its extreme position. Our plan is to convince Northwest they can't do without us." -- Jane Roberts: 529-2512
Pilots union says it would violate contract
By Jane Roberts
Contact
August 9, 2005
To fly through a possible mechanics strike this month, Northwest Airlines has made plans to divert traffic to Minnesota-based Champion Airlines, giving away flights guaranteed its own pilots.
According to a confidential Northwest memo leaked to the media over the weekend, Northwest passengers out of Minneapolis and Detroit could be shifted to Champion flights to Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth and Las Vegas.
Champion, based in Bloomington -- a Minneapolis suburb -- has 16 Boeing 727s, according to its Web site. It flies charter flights for professional and college teams, the Department of Defense and tour companies.
Champion did not return a phone call.
Northwest pilots were told of the plans two weeks ago, said Hal Myers, spokesman for the Northwest division of the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents both Northwest and Champion pilots.
"Based on what we understand the company is interested in doing, we believe it would constitute a violation of our contract," he said. "We are evaluating our options."
Northwest may use outside vendors to fly charter flights, but its contract with its pilots guarantees they fly all scheduled service.
"It is surprising that Northwest would anger it pilots at this stage of the game," said Steve MacFarlane, national assistant director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents 5,000 mechanics and aircraft cleaners.
The pilots have already given $265 million in annual concessions and have asked Northwest's other unions to comply.
On July 20, AMFA members voted 92.4 percent in favor of a strike, setting off a 30-day cooling-off period before a strike that would begin at 11:01 p.m. Aug. 19.
NWA has repeatedly said it intends to fly its complete schedule through a possible AMFA strike this summer using salaried staff and replacement workers the carrier has been recruiting and training throughout the summer.
"The fact that Northwest is considering Champion certainly illustrates they don't have as much confidence in their plan as they say," MacFarlane said. "We find it rather interesting, that Northwest feels they need to do this."
Northwest wants AMFA to accept a contract that would eliminate 53 percent of its jobs and require pay cuts from the remainder. It has told the union it needs $176 million in annual reductions.
The union has offered temporary cuts it values at $143.5 million. Northwest says they are worth only $87 million.
Last week, AMFA pulled out of emergency talks called by the National Mediation Board in Washington when Northwest failed to make a counteroffer, it said.
The sides have been negotiating since September 2004.
Registered Airframe and Powerplant mechanics here and across the country have received job solicitations this summer from Texas-based AVTECHS, recruiting for a "regional airline based in Tennessee, Michigan and Minnesota," said Sam Ellis, president of the local Northwest machinists union here.
"They're offering $32 a hour, plus hotel expenses and a $2,000 signing bonus with 40 hours guaranteed," he said.
Ellis received a solicitation last week and said several other airport employees not in the mechanics union had too.
Northwest has 50 to 60 mechanics in Memphis, earning about $37 an hour.
AMFA plans to take its cause "to the street," MacFarlane said. "We are going to strike the carrier and force it to back off its extreme position. Our plan is to convince Northwest they can't do without us." -- Jane Roberts: 529-2512
