Company Watch - Mesaba Airlines.

Oct 30, 2006

Judge Gregory Kishel granted Mesaba's request for a preliminary injunction to prevent work action or a threatened strike by the Air Line Pilots Assn., Assn. of Flight Attendants and Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Assn. Union employees were "outraged" at the decision, according to a statement. "Under the law, if your contract gets rejected you don't have to perform under that contract," said Tom Wychor, chairman of the carrier's ALPA unit. "No bankruptcy court has recognized any exception under the statutes until today." He said the unions will continue to negotiate in hopes of forestalling imposed work rules and wages scheduled for later this week. Oct 25, 2006

Mesaba, unions continue negotiations. Mesaba Airlines continued contract negotiations Thursday with unions representing pilots, flight attendants and mechanics. The airline has court permission to void current contracts, but it says it wants to reach new agreements through negotiations.

Oct 27, 2006

Mesaba reaches deadline in labor talks. Mesaba Airlines and its labor unions passed a deadline for reaching an agreement on pay cuts at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. The airline, a feeder carrier for Northwest Airlines, said it planned to impose pay cuts after the deadline but also noted that it might hold off if the two sides are close to an agreement. The airline has permission from a bankruptcy judge to impose cuts on the workers. Oct 26, 2006

Mesaba Airlines won a reprieve late Monday when a US Bankruptcy Court judge denied unionized employees the right to strike against the bankrupt carrier. Unions representing pilots, flight attendants and mechanics had threatened to walk off the job if the company moved forward with its plan to impose pay cuts as part of its restructuring plan. It aims to trim some 17.5% from its labor costs, a figure the unions have said is impossible to achieve. Oct 25, 2006

Pilots union appeals Mesaba strike ruling. The union representing Mesaba Airlines pilots is appealing a ruling that prevents a strike at the carrier, a feeder for Northwest Airlines. If a strike is allowed, the union may ask pilots at other carriers to strike in sympathy with Mesaba pilots, Air Line Pilots Association International President Duane Woerth says. Oct 25, 2006

Mesaba may cut pay for workers later this week. A bankruptcy judge on Monday blocked a strike at Mesaba Airlines, a move that will allow the feeder airline for Northwest to cut pay for several employee groups this week. Mesaba executives say a strike would put the carrier out of business. The airline also says it must lower pay to compete effectively with other carriers. Oct 24, 2006

Editor: Aram Gesar, eMail: [e-mail]

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Oct 23, 2006