By Jesse Russell

On the wings of rampant absenteeism at Northwest Airlines, pilots have approved a new contract that calls for overtime and a $1000 bonus for perfect attendance through September 3. If pilots fly more than 80 hours a month they will receive overtime pay of 50 percent. A concessionary contract approved when Northwest was under bankruptcy protection called for a monthly limit of 90 flight hours a month instead of the previous 80 hours per month. Throughout June and July the airline suffered an unusual number of missed shifts by pilots. The Airline Pilots Association attributed the increase in missed shifts to fatigue resulting from the change in flight hours. The airline plans to hire as many as 350 pilots in coming months to help relieve the burden.

By Doug Cunningham

Northwest Airlines flight attendants represented by the AFA-CWA have received cash and 401(K) contributions of about $14,500 each. The money comes from a $182 million equity claim negotiated by the union during Northwest’s bankruptcy. Flight attendants were forced by the bankruptcy to accept pay and benefits cuts of roughly forty percent.

By Doug Cunningham

AFA-CWA, the union representing Northwest Airlines flight attendants, is providing an average of $14,500 per flight attendant to help offset losses suffered by workers during Northwest Airlines bankruptcy. The money comes from the sale of a $182 million bankruptcy equity claim. The union is getting nearly 65 cents on the dollar for the claim. The proceeds will be given to the workers 40 percent in cash and 60 percent as 401(k) contributions within two to three weeks. Some Northwest Airlines workers will also get stock in the bankruptcy reorganization after the union sued

Northwest Airlines workers are objecting to a reorganization plan. Jesse Russell reports:

By Jesse Russell

Pilots, baggage handlers, and flight attendants have objected to part of Northwest Airlines reorganization that will give nearly five percent of the company to 400 top executives. The three unions that represent those workers protested the move suggesting it would be too costly for the airline as it attempts to lift off from bankruptcy. The flight attendants are currently voting on a new contract that would lock in pay cuts for four years. They need to approve the contract if the union wishes to have a stake in the reorganization.

By Doug Cunningham

Northwest Airlines flight attendants have won a round in bankruptcy court - a $65 million claim on payment for preferred Series C stock. The Association of Flight Attendants - CWA had sued on behalf of the flight attendants who held the company Series C preferred stock and the court upheld the claim. Workers holding those stocks will now be compensated. That stock was issued by Northwest in an agreement with the Teamsters, who in 1993 was the union representing the flight attendants. Northwest tried to stiff the workers on the stock's value by declaring bankruptcy, but the workers have won a bankruptcy court claim.

By Doug Cunningham

Hobbled by court rulings that let Northwest Airlines throw out union contracts and prevent the union from striking, the Association of Flight Attendants CWA has reached a tentative agreement with Northwest giving the airline the huge concessions it was after. AFA-CWA’s Master Executive Council Vice-President Andy Wisbach.

[Wisbacher]: “It's still a deal that represents $195 million of concessions to the company. We were able to get some movement on some non-economic items - I understand some scheduling issues and things like that. But as far as the economic items, there was no change on that."

By Doug Cunningham

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and Northwest Airlines are in intense federally mediated negotiations that started Friday. It’s the latest effort to reach an agreement on huge concessions demanded by Northwest as the airline used bankruptcy proceedings to try to destroy union contracts.

By Doug Cunningham

Northwest Airlines flight attendants picketed in Detroit Thursday to protest a plan to give 400 executives a 4.9 percent share of ownership in the airline when it emerges from bankruptcy. The executives are being rewarded while the workers who make the airline fly are being forced to sacrifice with deep pay and benefits cuts. The Association for Flight Attendants-CWA is fighting a court-imposed ban on a strike at Northwest and has asked that contract talks with the bankrupt airline be officially declared at an impasse. Northwest has begun making substantial profits - much sooner than it told the bankruptcy it would. So the union maintains that the steep concessions from workers are no longer needed.

By Doug Cunningham

The Association of Flight Attendants – CWA is escalating its legal battle for the right to strike at Northwest Airlines. The union is petitioning the U.S. Court of Appeals for a full review of it’s three judge panel’s ruling upholding a injunction against a strike. The union is asserting its right to strike because Northwest arbitrarily threw out the union contract, violating the collective bargaining agreement. But the court decided Northwest’s action in bankruptcy was not a breach of the contract but an annulment of it and therefore Northwest could not a breach a contract that didn’t exist. The union calls that a “unique approach to the law”.

The CWA's Association of Flight Attendants at Northwest Airlines
is trying to lift a legal order not to strike. Jesse Russell explains.

By Jesse Russell

In September a U.S. federal judge ruled that Northwest Airlines flight attendants should not be allowed to strike while in mediation and the matter should be left up to the bankruptcy court. On Tuesday lawyers for the flight attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants
asked the federal appeals court to throw out the lower court ruling. They have called the injunction unlawful because the airline terminated their labor contract in July and imposed wage and benefit cuts.

By Jesse Russell

The union representing Northwest Airlines pilots claims the airline is facing staffing issues. The Air Line Pilots Association said that poor managerial decisions have contributed to the shortage resulting in a number of flight cancellations. In a message to members the union said the company has less flexibility in scheduling pilots. The union called on the airline to quickly remedy the situation.

By Doug Cunningham

After a nearly 14 month strike, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) says it’s reached a strike settlement agreement with Northwest Airlines. The tentative agreement will go to the union membership for a ratification vote. The strike started when Northwest tried to slash the number of AMFA jobs and force a 25 percent pay cut on the workers. If this agreement is approved AMFA members will have recall rights. The strikers status will change to being on layoff. Strikers who decide to resign from Northwest Airlines will get up to 10 weeks of severance pay.

By Jesse Russell

Striking mechanics Northwest Airline mechanics get some good news. Jesse Russell reports:

Last year a Minnesota unemployment law judge ruled that Northwest mechanics, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, were ineligible to receive unemployment benefits. Those workers received some positive news on Tuesday when a Minnesota appeals court judge said the ruling was wrong and that the 25-percent pay cuts imposed on the workers by the airline was a lockout. The union still considers itself on strike, even though Northwest has kept the airline flying with replacement workers. Many of the 1600 workers who have not taken part or full-time jobs will receive more than $13,000 in benefits.

By Jesse Russell

With a strike hanging in the air Northwest Airlines has recalled all of its furloughed attendants. Jesse Russell has more:

Facing a spike in sick leaves, attrition and possibly in anticipation of a ruling by an appeals court judge, Northwest has called up 1,131 flight attendants currently on both voluntary and involuntary furloughs. Starting September 30 the attendants are expected to fill permanent vacancies. A strike at Northwest airlines was set to late last month after a bankruptcy court judge ruled that it was legal. The airline appealed the ruling and U.S. District Court Judge Victor Marrero blocked the walkouts until he makes a decision.

The skies are a little bit friendlier for flight attendants at Northwest Airlines today, as a bankruptcy court judge has upheld their right to strike under the Railway Labor Act.

By Jesse Russell

Judge Allan L. Gropper denied a request by Northwest to block plans by workers represented by the Association of Flight Attendants to strike. AFA representative Rick Thornton told the Workers Independent News that the ruling is a victory for not only the flight attendants, but also “all working people.” Unless the airline meets the union’s demands, the AFA plan to move forward on August 25 with CHAOS, an acronym for Create Havoc Around Our System - a trademarked strategy of random unannounced strikes. Thronton said that could mean anything - all flights across the board, all flights to North Dakota, all odd numbered gates - only a handful of organizers know at any one time. Thornton added that the ruling comes at a time when workers at Northwest feel unified due to a poorly worded memo the airline sent out to ground workers who are in the process of being laid off. In the memo the airline suggested “101 ways” the unemployed workers could cope with financial hardships. One suggestion was for workers to “dig through garbage.” Thornton said workers throughout the company found the document insensitive.

By Doug Cunningham

Striking Northwest Airlines mechanics are scheduled to resume contract talks with the company today. It was one year ago this week that the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) went on strike. It was triggered by failure to reach an agreement and Northwest’s imposing job cuts of 2,000 along with a 26 percent pay cut. It’s been a rough year for the strikers thanks to weak labor laws that let Northwest Airlines hire 1200 strike-breaking replacement workers and outsource some mechanics’ work. Some union members also crossed the picket lines to return to work.

By Jesse Russell

CHAOS (Creating Havoc Around Our System) is in the air as Northwest Airlines flight attendants reject the company's second contract proposal. As soon as the company received word of the rejection it said it would impose heavier terms as allowed by a bankruptcy court judge. Represented by the Association of Flight Attendants, they fired back threatening job actions and a potential strike.

[Caldwell 1]: The clock is ticking and August 15 at 9:01 p.m. CHAOS could arise at Northwest.

Corey Caldwell is spokesperson for the union. She explained why the union believes the contract was voted down:

By Doug Cunningham

Northwest Airlines flight attendants face a bankruptcy court deadline next week that could void their contracts. The flight attendants on Thursday voted to leave their current union and go instead with representation by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.

By Doug Cunningham

Northwest Airline flight attendants have less than two weeks to negotiate with airline management under threat of a bankruptcy judge’s destruction of their labor contracts. The court has granted Northwest the right to destroy the contract but it put a 14-day stay on the decision. If the union doesn’t reach and agreement Northwest can impose its terms on the union. As Northwest’s flight attendants struggle with that, they’re also voting on switching their union representation. The voting ends July 6th. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA is seeking to represent the flight attendants, replacing the Professional Flight Attendants Association. Pat Friend, AFA-CWA President, says Northwest flight attendants need the resources and experience of her union to get through this difficult time.

By Jesse Russell

A deal has been made between Northwest Airlines and baggage handlers represented by the International Association of Machinists. Nearly 700 jobs could be lost under the new proposal, but the union says originally the airline was seeking to cut 3,100 jobs. If the contract is approved by members it could result in wage cuts of up to 11.5 percent, less vacation days and reduced sick pay. The IAM is unhappy with the proposal, but sees it as the lesser of two evils - they decided to take what NWA had left on the table just hours before a bankruptcy court was able to free the airline to impose a contract on the employees. Other items in the contract include allowing the airline to outsource work at airports not considered to be on Northwest’s "mainline," having employees pay 15 percent of the cost for their health insurance premium and freezes the current pension plan. A date for the members to vote on the contract has not been set.