AMFA Disputes Northwest CEO's Contention That the Union Does Not Have a Current Contract.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) Assistant National Director Steve MacFarlane today disputed public statements by Northwest Airlines CEO Doug Steenland that AMFA has no contract in force with the airline.

"Although we don't like the contract Northwest imposed on August 20 and we remain on strike, this is a valid contract that upholds AMFA as the union legally representing all mechanics employed by Northwest Airlines," MacFarlane said. "Any so-called replacement mechanic who accepts a permanent position with Northwest automatically becomes an AMFA-represented employee. Furthermore, while the company is permitted under the law to unilaterally amend our contract at this point, that contract continues in full force and effect as amended. Doug Steenland either has been misinformed by his advisers or is deliberately misleading people into thinking that Northwest no longer has any ties or obligations to AMFA. That's absolutely untrue."

MacFarlane said, "We have a contract and we have strong leverage by continuing to strike. Northwest is operating the airline outside of FAA safety guidelines and Northwest's own procedures. We believe the investigation under way at the Department of Transportation's Inspector General's office will bear this out. Northwest can't operate the airline with the current combination of exhausted managers and under-experienced, under-trained strikebreakers"

AMFA's craft union represents aircraft maintenance technicians and related support personnel at Alaska Airlines, ATA, Horizon Air, Independence Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. AMFA's credo is "Safety in the air begins with quality maintenance on the ground." To learn more about AMFA, visit www.amfanatl.org.