Release #05.NWA5
December 9, 2005

NWA Employees Rally Against Outsourcing

Three hundred spirited Northwest Airlines employees joined forces in a show of solidarity at a NWA union rally December 7 at the Ramada Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. 

Reporters from the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Associated Press, and Minnesota Public Radio interview Capt. Mark McClain about the NWA labor rally on Dec. 7 in Bloomington, Minn.

Members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the Professional Flight Attendants Association (PFAA), the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the Aircraft Technical Support Association, the Northwest Airlines Meteorology Association, and the Transport Workers Union cheered as union leaders spoke out against Northwest management’s attempt to use the bankruptcy process to outsource thousands of jobs. 

“We are here today to come together as a unified labor force,” NWA ALPA Chairman Capt. Mark McClain said. “There’s no sense in saving Northwest if we can’t save our jobs.”

IAM President Bobby De Pace and PFAA Vice President Doug Moe also spoke at the event, encouraging those in attendance to put their past differences to rest and to unify against management’s unnecessary outsourcing demands. 

“The union movement at Northwest is alive and well,” De Pace said.

The bankruptcy court has scheduled the 1113(c) hearing to commence on Jan. 17, 2006. If labor agreements haven’t been reached by that date, the bankruptcy judge will rule no later than 30 days from the start of the hearing (i.e., by February 16, 2006) on NWA’s request to reject the unions’ contracts. 

Management’s proposal to outsource 70–100-seat flying to a yet-to-be-established NWA subsidiary has angered many NWA pilots. Management has dubbed this proposed subsidiary “Newco” and plans to use it to replace current DC-9 flying.

“We want to reach a consensual agreement with Northwest, but that will not happen if management continues with its Newco demands,” McClain said. “I am very concerned that Northwest management is once again misreading the will of our pilot group.” 

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ALPA CONTACT: Will Holman, 612-840-7749