Union Wants Airline to Set Example

Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) Local 33, serving Northwest and Mesaba Airlines, said Monday they are looking forward to productive negotiations with Mesaba Airlines. Regular contract renewal negotiations are scheduled to begin today (Tuesday).

"Mesaba is a well-managed, financially strong regional airline. We expect Mesaba to engage seriously in the negotiating process," said AMFA Local 33 President Jim Atkinson. "Let's hope Mesaba will establish a model for fair and quick contract negotiations that Northwest and other airlines can learn from."

Atkinson said some airlines deliberately undermine contract negotiations in order to prolong the process, but he does not anticipate this happening in the Mesaba negotiations.

Mesaba recently reported net profit of $4.3 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, making it an attractive target for union officials, who have been smarting recently, conceding to one airline after another, in the airlines' requests for pay and/or benefit reductions; and changes in work rules.

FMI: www.mesaba.com; www.amfa33.org