Washington, D.C., May 19, 2006 –The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today announced a tentative agreement with Northwest Airlines covering 5,600 Equipment Service & Stock Clerks (ESSC) at the bankrupt airline.
“The negotiating committee unanimously recommends ratification of the agreement to avoid the elimination of our contract,” said IAM District 143 President Bobby DePace. “We are not recommending ratification because the terms are favorable, but because the alternative is worse.”
Terms of the tentative agreement and a ratification schedule are being prepared for distribution to the membership and will be available on the District 143 website, www.iam143.org. A separate but simultaneous strike vote will also take place to authorize a strike in case the proposal is rejected by the membership and the ESSC contract is abrogated by the court.
Closing arguments in Northwest’s Section 1113(c) trial to abrogate the ESSC contract remain scheduled for May 19, 2006 at 10:00 a.m in New York City.
The ESSC membership rejected a company proposal on March 7, 2006. IAM members in the Clerical, Office, Fleet and Passenger Service (COFPS) and Plant Protection (PP) classifications ratified Northwest’s settlement proposals. Flight Simulator Technicians & Simulator Support Specialists (SIMOP) also rejected Northwest’s proposal in March, but the airline has not moved to abrogate their agreement at this time.
The IAM is the largest airline union in North America and the largest union at Northwest Airlines. More information about the Machinists Union at Northwest Airlines is available at www.iam143.org.
