NWCOflyer From United States of America, joined Jun 2003, 641 posts, RR: 15 Posted (7 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1721 times:
source: NWA Mechanics Authorize Strike Vote
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Northwest Airlines Corp. mechanics represented by the The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said Friday that it has authorized a strike vote, citing the carrier's "continuing refusal to take current contract negotiations seriously." The AMFA said its most recent proposal included a 16.1% pay cut and other concessions but was "summarily dismissed by the company." The carrier is seeking pay cuts of 25% to 26% and other major concessions in a move to save $176 million a year, the union said. Its members will have until July 19 to cast their votes.
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Certainly nothing surprising. Seems like NW management won't budge one inch on these concessions.
Slider From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6518 posts, RR: 37 Reply 1, posted (7 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1695 times:
Braniff727 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 686 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (7 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1674 times:
I think this is a scare tactic to the airline. At this point I still doubt that the union will strike. With the union already backing down from their stance of not giving any paycuts, to suddenly offering 16% is a sign that they are going to break. I believe this vote is to give the union a negotiating tool.
Fleet Service From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 622 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (7 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1560 times:
Quoting Braniff727 (Reply 2): At this point I still doubt that the union will strike. With the union already backing down from their stance of not giving any paycuts, to suddenly offering 16% is a sign that they are going to break.
Talk to some NWA AMT's and see what they think.
NWA wants a 26% paycut and to eliminate 50% of the AMT jobs.
Sure, vote yourself out of a job and drastic paycuts for the rest,yah that'll happen.
The NWA AMT's I know at LGA aren't willing to vote themselves out of a job.
Yes, I actually *do* work for an airline,how about you?
Braniff727 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 686 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (7 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1537 times:
Quoting Fleet Service (Reply 3): The NWA AMT's I know at LGA aren't willing to vote themselves out of a job.
With NW hiring replacement mechanics and flight attendants, voting to strike, if it comes to that, is exactly what they are doing.
Right now, NW says (note, NW says) they can continue flying because of their contingency plan. If that is the case, then a strike is the equivalent of quitting. The Detroit News and Free Press have been on strike over a decade, yet the papers continue to be delivered.
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21025 posts, RR: 60 Reply 5, posted (7 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1538 times:
Assuming the numbers stated above are correct, this is different than the UA F/A situation in that this contract would eliminate so many jobs and cut the pay of so many other employees that it would be worth it to strike and see what comes of it.
For the M/X, the worst that will happen is they will lose their job due to B/K and have to find a new one with the private M/X firms that were going to be taking their jobs away anyway, probably at the same reduced pay they would have had to agree to to stay at NW.
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
M404 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 2213 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (7 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 1483 times:
Could NW want the strike so that they then can declare BK and abrogate EVERYONES contract at once.?
Less sarcasm and more thought equal better understanding
Hammer From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 677 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (7 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1435 times:
Quoting Braniff727 (Reply 2): I think this is a scare tactic to the airline
not really much of a scare tactic, Steenland said he won't negotiate until the jobs are cut (2,800), then he wants 26% pay cuts as well....AMFA leaders in DTW have been saying between August 8th-15th will be D-day....NWA wants nothing more than the mechanics and cleaners to strike, then they can get rid of them and bring in there lower wage workers. Prospect has hired 300 workers to start cleaning at $8.00 per hour as soon as AMFA walks or is locked out. And we have all heard that NWA has alot of mechanics in Arizona, training in case of a lockout/strike.
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21025 posts, RR: 60 Reply 8, posted (7 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1426 times:
Well, sorry to say, if that truly is the case, then it is PROOF that current pay scales at mainline airlines are higher than the free market dictates. If they are able to get willing and able cleaners at lower rates and can train NEW mechanics who are fully qualified at a lower overall cost than keeping the old ones, then this indicates a few things:
1. Current union contract prices are too high, especially when paying for seniority which provides little to no benefit to airlines past only a few years of experience.
2. Current union forced employment levels are too high, creating redundancies.
Either way, it is lose lose for the current mechanics. It's either take a pay cut and/or lose your job, or lose your job and then find a new one at the new market rate for your job, which is likely at least 26% lower than it was. And if there is redundancy, the ones who are the most stubborn and refuse to either take a cut or find a new job at the new wage will end of losing their job and find NO job to replace it in their industry.
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
M404 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 2213 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (7 years 10 months 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 1318 times:
From NW "Newswire" on Fri 01/Jul
NWA Company Statement on AMFA’s July 1, 2005 News Release
Northwest issued the following statement on Friday:
Northwest is working with AMFA and its other unions to reach consensual agreements that provide wage and benefit levels that are fair to employees and that will allow Northwest to be competitive with other airlines.
The union's current offer provides less than half of Northwest's savings target from AMFA and is not a permanent restructuring.
Our analysis of AMFA’s proposal indicates actual potential cost reductions of only $87 million, less than half of the required savings for us to achieve our overall target of $1.1 billion. The failure to achieve the needed $176 million from AMFA will leave the airline at risk. AMFA’s claim that its offer totals $143 million is misleading. The proposal includes credit for layoffs that occurred in prior years (costs that had been taken out before the current labor savings target was generated, and therefore represent no savings against today’s base) and unarticulated language changes that cannot be linked to actual cost savings.
Furthermore, AMFA's proposal only offers temporary labor savings. AMFA’s offer is for only two years of reductions, with wage rates snapping back to 2005 levels in 2007, regardless of market conditions.
Overall, we are disappointed with the AMFA proposal because it falls substantially short of the savings required for Northwest Airlines to achieve needed permanent labor cost savings.
From AMFA statement to Biz Journals.com on Yahoo on same date
"Since the beginning of negotiations in October 2004, Northwest Airlines has taken the stance that the AMFA members should continue to sacrifice their jobs and accept pay cuts that are disproportionate to the other work groups and out of line with your industry peer group," AMFA National Director O.V. Delle-Femine said. "The company's negotiating committee has continued to refuse to negotiate the many language issues that remain open for resolution and they have steadfastly refused to move off their initial economic proposal."
As evidence of his assertions, Delle-Femine said that in the most recent negotiating session the union made a 16.1 percent pay cut proposal that he said would have said Northwest more than $140 million a year in labor costs, only to have the company negotiating team dismiss it. So far Northwest remains at its opening position, a demand for pay cuts of 25 percent or more to save $176 million.
Less sarcasm and more thought equal better understanding
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