November 16, 2005 - A U.S. bankruptcy judge approved Northwest Airlines’ Section 1113(e) motion for emergency temporary relief that reduces the wages paid to IAM-represented employees by 19 percent and compensation for sick leave to 75 percent of the prevailing wage rate for each day of paid sick leave taken.
“The Machinists Union did not agree to these terms, but the bankruptcy law does not require union agreement for temporary contract changes,” said District 143 President Bobby DePace. “The Machinists Union will not agree to any long-term contract changes unless they are first presented to and ratified by the membership.”
The judge also approved temporary agreements between Northwest and its pilots and flight attendants, and long-term agreements with the carrier’s dispatchers, meteorologists and technical support workers. The mechanics, represented by AMFA, were not involved because Northwest already has the ability to set whatever wage, benefit and work rule terms it wants for the mechanic group.
The temporary cost savings suspends the airline’s Section 1113(c) motion to terminate collective bargaining agreements and provides District 143 negotiators with valuable time to craft fair and equitable restructuring agreements for IAM members at Northwest.
“We are disappointed Northwest has chosen to inflict these hardships on their employees,” said DePace, “but we welcome the additional time to achieve a long-term agreement that is acceptable to the membership.”
