Aircraft mechanics reject Northwest settlement

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) announced on Dec. 30 that its members had rejected Northwest Airline’s strike settlement proposal. With 77 percent of eligible members participating, 57 percent voted “no” after four months on the picket line.

In a prepared statement, Northwest Airline (NWA) management responded that it was disappointed: “A ratified agreement would have ended the mechanics’ strike and allowed both parties to move forward.”

How do NWA bosses want to “move forward”? They are demanding an additional $1.4 billion in concessions from the pilots, flight attendants and other workers who had previously agreed to givebacks.

This is the significance of the AMFA members refusing to give up the strike. Although the other airline unions did not strike in August, the struggle is not over. With the example of the three-day New York transit workers’ strike, which successfully rejected similar concession demands, still fresh, NWA knows the potential for united action against the airlines is real.

NWA must also be keenly aware of the rank-and-file upsurge among Delphi auto parts workers, who are fighting against a similar attack.

Pilots and flight attendants at NWA’s feeder carrier, Mesaba Airlines, picketed Detroit’s Metro airport on Dec. 19, exposing the paltry wages that already exist in the airline industry. Mesaba pilots are paid only $21,000 per year, yet the company is demanding double-digit pay and benefit cuts.

The aircraft mechanics at Northwest went on strike Aug. 20, 2005, fighting cuts in jobs, pay and benefits that the airline and other industries are attempting to force on workers. Although Northwest claims to be “operating normally,” it has sharply reduced the number of flights—and is at the bottom of the on-time report. On Sept. 14, NWA went to bankruptcy court, using the authority of the capitalist state as a hammer against the workers.

AMFA National Director O.V. Delle-Femine commented on the vote: “This is a victory for AMFA members and for unionism. Our striking members refused to bow down to Northwest’s arrogant, self-enriching management and will continue the strike against this renegade, union-busting airline. AMFA members approved recent agreements with Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and even United Airlines in bankruptcy. Only Northwest’s management is out to deny all its employees a living wage while awarding themselves millions in frivolous bonuses.

“ALPA [Air Line Pilots’ Association], IAM [International Association of Machinists] and the flight attendants should take note that their failure to support AMFA encouraged Northwest to come after them in the same way and did not weaken our resolve to fight for our rights with dignity and professionalism.

“Unions outside of Northwest, especially the UAW and others who have lent us financial and moral support, can take pride in the fact that the vast majority of AMFA members have never faltered, even in the face of extraordinary economic pressure. Many of our Northwest members have gone on to better things than working for the unreformed Scrooges on this airline’s management team, but continue to support our brave strikers in person or in other ways. I could not be prouder.”