Rejuvenated
Dec 13, 05, 9:06 pm
Source: Airwise (http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1134475465.html)
December 13, 2005
Striking mechanics and related workers at Northwest Airlines said on Monday they will vote on a proposal to end their nearly four month job action but there is little, if any, new work for them to claim.
Jobs at Northwest that were covered by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association stood at roughly 4,400 when the strike began on August 20. But the airline continued to fly and has reduced its maintenance work force by 80 percent. The company said recently that all vacancies are filled.
Northwest said it is working more efficiently, has hired less expensive replacement employees on a permanent basis, and sent more of its maintenance to private contractors.
About half the current maintenance and maintenance related work force of 880 at Northwest is comprised of AMFA employees who crossed the picket line. Some were on the active payroll at the time of the strike while others were recalled from furloughs.
The airline entered bankruptcy in mid-September. The strike was triggered by company demands the union accept annual concessions, including substantial wage and job cuts.
Union leaders said they met with the company on December 6 and the two sides determined that ending the strike was in the interests of both parties.
The bankrupt airline offered a settlement agreement and the union said it would forward the proposal to members.
"If the membership votes to accept these conditions, then the strike will end and the company will comply with the terms offered," AMFA said in its statement.
"We are pleased the AMFA leadership has announced a ratification vote on the latest contract proposal. A ratified agreement would end the mechanics strike and allow both parties to move forward," the airline said in a statement.
Ballots will be sent to all members who remain on strike, but those who crossed the picket line will not be permitted to vote, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said in an statement.
The union said it still must work out details for an electronic ballot and no vote schedule was announced.
If approved, employees who are on strike will be placed "off payroll, on layoff" status, giving them four weeks of layoff pay and some compensation for accrued vacation. Employees would also have a right to be recalled in 2006.
(Reuters)
December 13, 2005
Striking mechanics and related workers at Northwest Airlines said on Monday they will vote on a proposal to end their nearly four month job action but there is little, if any, new work for them to claim.
Jobs at Northwest that were covered by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association stood at roughly 4,400 when the strike began on August 20. But the airline continued to fly and has reduced its maintenance work force by 80 percent. The company said recently that all vacancies are filled.
Northwest said it is working more efficiently, has hired less expensive replacement employees on a permanent basis, and sent more of its maintenance to private contractors.
About half the current maintenance and maintenance related work force of 880 at Northwest is comprised of AMFA employees who crossed the picket line. Some were on the active payroll at the time of the strike while others were recalled from furloughs.
The airline entered bankruptcy in mid-September. The strike was triggered by company demands the union accept annual concessions, including substantial wage and job cuts.
Union leaders said they met with the company on December 6 and the two sides determined that ending the strike was in the interests of both parties.
The bankrupt airline offered a settlement agreement and the union said it would forward the proposal to members.
"If the membership votes to accept these conditions, then the strike will end and the company will comply with the terms offered," AMFA said in its statement.
"We are pleased the AMFA leadership has announced a ratification vote on the latest contract proposal. A ratified agreement would end the mechanics strike and allow both parties to move forward," the airline said in a statement.
Ballots will be sent to all members who remain on strike, but those who crossed the picket line will not be permitted to vote, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said in an statement.
The union said it still must work out details for an electronic ballot and no vote schedule was announced.
If approved, employees who are on strike will be placed "off payroll, on layoff" status, giving them four weeks of layoff pay and some compensation for accrued vacation. Employees would also have a right to be recalled in 2006.
(Reuters)