[Peace-discuss] Airline strike

[C. G. Estabrook]

[Here are some accounts of the Northwest strike, in regard to
the concern expressed at last night's meeting, that AWARE's 
money to bring a speaker from Detroit not be used for a ticket
on an airline against which workers are striking. (Northwest
is a major carrier from Detroit.) --CGE]


SCABS, STRIKEBREAKERS KEEP NORTHWEST FLYING

WASHINGTON POST - Northwest Airlines Corp. encountered picket
lines and some flight delays as it weathered the first day of
a strike by its 4,400 mechanics and maintenance workers. The
first major airline strike in seven years has set the stage
for a confrontation that could reshape labor relations in a
struggling industry. The airline unions, once a dominant
force, have lost much of their power as their members
have had to sacrifice wages and jobs repeatedly to keep the
carriers afloat [sic]. With the industry in dire condition,
the balance of power appears to be shifting away from
organized labor to airline executives.

Northwest was able to maintain operations largely because its
other labor groups, representing pilots, flight attendants and
baggage handlers, ignored the strikers and reported to work.
Airline officials claimed victory yesterday, saying 14 months
of preparations for the walkout were paying off. They added
that no further negotiations with the union were planned. . .

Northwest prepared for the walkout by lining up 1,300
replacement mechanics, mostly workers laid off from other
airlines who were willing to work for lower wages. It also
arranged for lower-paid contract workers to perform other jobs
such as aircraft cleaning.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/20/AR2005

082001238.html

MICHELINE MAYNARD, NY TIMES -  Northwest's plan to use
temporary workers in place of striking members of the Aircraft
Mechanics Fraternal Association took 18 months to create,
company executives said, and it required extensive analysis
that began on the tarmac at each of its airports. It also
required the cooperation of other unions and the federal
government - and even consultation with the White House.

The strategy passed its initial test over a light weekend of
flights, but its success or failure will become clearer this
week as the airline resumes its normal weekday schedule. . .

"This gives all of the opportunities now to the companies and
to the replacement workers, and it makes it very, very grim
for strikers," said David Gregory, a labor law professor at
St. John's University in New York. As relations with the
mechanics' union deteriorated, Northwest developed two goals,
executives said. Along with staying in the air, it wanted to
cut costs by eliminating 2,000 jobs and embracing the
efficient maintenance systems used by JetBlue Airways
and other low-fare airlines. . .  Over the last 18 months, the
airline analyzed every job represented by the mechanics' union
at every airport and calculated the skills required to fix
each of its planes. It then decided how many of those workers
it actually needed and what kind of replacements it would
require in the event of a strike. Northwest officials at each
airport were given plans at the beginning of the year spelling
out how the airline wanted jobs to be performed. Then, three
months ago, the airline began hiring replacement workers,
who received extensive classroom and hands-on training in Tucson.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/22/business/22northwest.html