Airline Threatens To Discipline Safety, Security Demonstrators

Northwest Airlines says any employee who stages a demonstration over safety or security concerns will be punished. The punishment can range from disciplinary action to outright termination.

The airline sent its threat in a letter to mechanics.

"It seems like pure intimidation," said Jim Atkinson, president of Local 33 of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association. Along with flight attendants, mechanics plan to picket the Minneapolis-St. Paul Interational Airport July 2nd over the company's use of third-party maintenance operations both at home and abroad. Specifically, the AMFA says outsourcing maintenance to domestic shops is a safety risk. Sending work overseas could be a security hazard.

But the letter to both unions says flat out, "Any suggestion that safety or security has been compromised at Northwest is both false and highly damaging to Northwest's business. AMFA or PFAA-represented employees who engage in such rule violations will be subject to discipline up to and including discharge."

When asked about the story, a spokesman at Northwest refused comment.

Under contract, Northwest is allowed to outsource up to 38-percent of its maintenance work. Since 9/11, the company has laid of a lot of mechanics and is now within sight of that cap.

FMI: www.amfa33.org, www.nwa.com