"Replacement" Workers Becoming Rather Permanent
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) reported on
their website Friday that almost 57 percent of the union's voting
membership rejected the latest settlement proposal from Northwest
Airlines. It was hoped the proposal -- which would have given
workers unemployment benefits, four weeks of layoff pay, as well as
payment for accrued vacation time -- would end the four-month old
mechanics strike at the beleaguered carrier.
The rejection wasn't especially surprising -- earlier this
month, the mechanics union called the settlement proposal the
"worst contract in the history of airline labor" -- but while the
vote failed to end the stalemate between AMFA and the bankrupt
carrier, the fact the settlement came to a vote at all might be
seen as something as a positive.
As was reported in Aero-News,
the first attempt to bring a contract to a vote ended in October
when the union reneged on their initial decision to bring that
proposal to a vote, claiming Northwest had inserted unfavorable
language into the deal at the last minute.
"Our striking members
refused to bow down to Northwest's arrogant, self-enriching
management and will continue the strike against this renegade,
union-busting airline," said AMFA National Director O.V.
Delle-Femine in a statement, according to Reuters.
The union's rejection of the settlement proposal means the
strike -- which began August 20 -- will
likely extend well into the New Year. It also means the replacement
workers hired by the carrier to fill in for the striking mechanics
have additional job security.
"We are disappointed that members of AMFA have declined
ratification of the company's latest contract proposal," Northwest
said in a statement to Reuters. "A ratified agreement would have
ended the mechanics' strike and allowed both parties to move
forward."
AMFA represents about 4,400 mechanics and related employees at
Northwest, although approximately half of them voted, according to
the union.
Workers have been picketing at airports used by Northwest --
although as the strike wears on, some have gotten new jobs and
others have crossed the picket line.
If Northwest's unions
fail to reach deals with the carrier by January 17 -- the airline
is also involved in negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Union
(ALPA) and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) --
Northwest is expected to renew their earlier plea to the bankruptcy
judge to allow the carrier to void all collective bargaining deals
-- imposing the new contracts on the unions whether they want them
or not.
"Northwest pilots have already made huge sacrifices to help our
company with its financial problems," said ALPA Chairman Mark
McClain. "We will not sacrifice pilot careers for a flying job at a
start-up airline that may be sold off in the near future."
According to McClain, ALPA plans to hold an informational
walkout January 4 to protest Northwest's labor policies -- although
the IAM, which represents 14,400 ground workers, is hoping for a
more amenable outcome.
"We hope to make any decision by the judge unnecessary," said
IAM spokesman Joseph Tiberi.