Mesaba Aircraft Mechanics Prepare for Potential Strike.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Aircraft mechanics employed by Mesaba Airlines have opened a strike headquarters close to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, just days after Mesaba's pilots opened theirs nearby in anticipation of a potential strike against the carrier. Mesaba is a subsidiary of MAIR Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAIR) and operates as a Northwest Airlink affiliate under code-sharing agreements with Northwest.

The mechanics, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), have been working with Mesaba's management to reach a consensual agreement on contract concessions, according to the AMFA Strike Preparedness Committee for the Mesaba mechanics.

The airline filed for bankruptcy protection in October 2005. In February 2006, the company filed an 1113(c) motion in an attempt to impose severe wage and benefit cuts on its mechanics, pilots and flight attendants. Mesaba is seeking 19.4 percent wage and benefit cuts from the mechanics, along with increased employee contributions for health coverage. The court decision on the motion was recently delayed to May 11, 2006.

In March 2005, the mechanics overwhelmingly approved a strike authorization in the event that Mesaba management and AMFA-represented employees fail to reach an agreement. This authorization vote was taken after two years of RLA Section 6 negotiations had stalled and the vote remains valid today.

Created in 1962, AMFA is a craft oriented, independent aviation union representing over 200 mechanics at Mesaba Airlines. AMFA's craft union is the largest labor organization in the airline industry, representing over 16,000 aircraft maintenance technicians and related support personnel at carriers including Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, ATA, Horizon Air and Mesaba Airlines.