Their cause is lost, just like their jobs.

Too many other qualified mechanics out there to hire on as permanent replacements. NWA mech's will be hired back, on the bottom of the pay scale, as jobs become available.

Does anyone knows if the Pilots and FA's are going to honor the picket lines? I fly out on Monday and I hate to make the 6 hour drive from MPS.

I agree boycott NW

I expect by Monday we'll have a better idea of what the outcome will andwon't be. The next two days will likely determine what actions other unions take and whether the contingency plans NW has put in place will be sufficient, at least in the short term.

No way, Jose'!!!

I just booked over $1700.00 in airfare for myself and my family; we are going on a cruise in October and are happy to be flying NW from MSP to MSY (New Orleans). It will be a nice change from my usual MSP/SEA route. ^

Oh, I am starting a new positiion in MSP next month, and I will be traveling NW exclusively and often (I am 15K in EQMs shy of Platinum).

Good riddance to bad mechanics. Go NWA!!!

-Alan

Northwest would be a fool to hire any of them back, without severe restrictions and oversight at this point.

NW has been great to me and it looks like this is a step toward getting costs controlled.

I'll be looking to fly with them even more.

Bah! Humbug! Bring on the replacement mechanics! Go NWA!!! Go NWA!!! Go NWA!!! ^

-Alan

NWA management behavior throughout this episode has been outrageous. It is a shame so many posters on this board have no respect for working people.

do what you feel is right but if they indeed go into bankruptcy and then the union will more than likely get cracked then, meaning the strike was just a waste of time...

Given the increased security after 9-11, I would think that the striking NW Mechanics are going to be as much of a threat to NW operations after 11:01 p.m. central tonight as a deranged gerbil would be. How are they ever going to get back on the property again to even be a factor?

I just hope the striking mechanics didn't let the door hit them on the *$$ on their way out tonight, especially at DTW.

-Alan

Good luck. It is hard to fly on an airline that has no mechanics. 1500 maintenance "workers" are never going to be able to cover the problems that will surely go wrong on every flight tomorrow.

MEC Hotline Friday, Aug. 19th.

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This is Northwest Master Executive Council (MEC) Chairman Mark McClain with a Special NWA MEC Hotline recorded on Friday, August 19, 2005, at 11:03 p.m. Central Time.
AMFA STRIKES � ALPA PILOTS TO REPORT TO WORK (8/19/05)
At 11:01 p.m. CT Friday, August 19, 2005, NWA AMFA's leadership called a strike after AMFA and NWA management negotiators failed to reach agreement on a new contract before the 30-day-cooling-off period expired.

The NWA MEC, in a Special Meeting held via teleconference, elected to not engage in a sympathy strike, judging that it would not be in the best interests of NWA pilots. As a result, all NWA pilots should report to work as scheduled and fly their trips as assigned. Again, all NWA pilots should report to work as scheduled and fly their trips as assigned.

Management has advised ALPA that operations will likely be affected over the coming days as a result of a large number of aircraft currently out of service and a high volume of MELs on in-service aircraft, so please continue to exercise your patience and professionalism.

We will continue to update you with new information as it becomes available. Please check this Hotline regularly.

EXTRA VIGILANCE RECOMMENDED (8/19/05)
This is a reminder that you should be extra vigilant when performing your duties. Be careful to ensure that you have the correct aircraft logbooks and that all aircraft and flight paperwork is properly completed and up to date. Line checks are valid until 0600Z of the eighth UTC day, including the day of the check. Information on time-limited MELs and CDLs can be found on page 15 of the MEL introduction. All aspects of our operation are subject to increased FAA scrutiny, so make sure you have all required documents, equipment, and up-to-date manuals in your possession. Please report any unusual activity or any safety or security problems to the ALPA Safety Operation Center (800-NWA-ALPA ext. 374).

SECURITY/SAFETY CONCERNS DURING AN AMFA STRIKE (8/19/05)
You may encounter AMFA picket lines or face other safety/security issues while attempting to report for work. If you have safety concerns, you must contact your chief pilot and explain your situation and concerns. NWA management is responsible for ensuring your safety when you report to work. After you talk to your chief pilot, please call the ASOC to inform ALPA of the situation.

INDIVIDUAL SYMPATHY STRIKE QUESTION (8/19/05)
A pilot who refuses to cross AMFA picket lines and report to work may suffer consequences. ALPA does not know how the company will deal with this type of situation. There is a risk the company will take disciplinary action or discharge a pilot who engages in this activity by asserting that it believes the right to honor a picket line in this manner is not protected by the Railway Labor Act. There is also a risk the company might treat a pilot who engages in this activity as joining in the AMFA strike, with his right to return to work governed by legal doctrines for striking employees. If this occurs, challenges by ALPA and/or the pilot to the company's action would ultimately be decided in legal proceedings.
Given these circumstances, pilots contemplating individually withholding their services should call the ALPA Safety Operations Center (800-NWA-ALPA, ext. 374) beforehand to obtain further guidance.

*** This marks the end of today's Hotline. Until next time, fly safe, fly the contract and remember that over 500 Northwest pilots are still on furlough.

I have lots of respect for people who work...the problem is, these mechanics are NOT working. Good luck to NWA and those of you who depend on them!

Some redeyes to MSP (the ones that depart around 1 a.m. PT) are already delayed as of 9:45 p.m. PT:

SEA-MSP
SFO-MSP

This is the first test of whether NW is ready. LAX-MSP, PDX-MSP and LAS-MSP are all still showing as on time.