Kev3188
Veteran
Blah, blah, blah....
May 17, 2006 1800CDT
Judge Ready to Rule at NWA
With testimony concluded in the 1113© bankruptcy trial to determine the fate of 50-year old labor agreements at Northwest Airlines, it’s time to examine where we stand and what we can expect in the days to come.
Telling both sides he could render his decision on abrogation after closing arguments on Friday, May 19, Judge Allan Gropper said he was giving NWA and the IAM “one last chance†to reach an agreement.
To anyone in the courtroom, the sound of a hammer being cocked was unmistakable.
The District 143 Negotiating Committee will meet Thursday in Minneapolis, MN and every effort will be made to produce a tentative agreement that we can recommend to our members.
Your committee has already been successful in negotiating improvements over the Company proposal rejected by the membership in March, but there are still some issues to address. In light of these improvements, if a tentative agreement is not possible, the IAM’s policy is to allow the membership to review and vote on the improved terms. An additional strike vote would also take place.
We are determined to preserve the contract language that generations of IAM members fought for, but we are also determined to protect our current members who are facing unprecedented pressure from a company on the brink of oblivion.
It is clear that an abrogation order would be lethal for NWA. While many members feel a crippling strike is just what NWA deserves, it is extremely doubtful the airline would ever emerge from bankruptcy after a strike.
And despite that potential for liquidation, it is all but certain that Judge Gropper will order contracts to be dissolved if a tentative agreement is not reached.
Abrogation of contracts at NWA would be no less serious for IAM members than it would be for Northwest. While representation rights would be preserved, all contract language would be replaced with terms set by Northwest. Seniority protections, grievance procedures and recall rights could be eliminated. Clearly, the stakes could not be higher.
It is critical that IAM members at Northwest understand how important the next few days are to their future and the future of the airline. We will post daily bulletins regarding the status of negotiations with the Company and any breaking news will be posted immediately at www.iam143.org.
Your ESSC Negotiating Committee,
Robert B. De Pace
Kevin Graf
David Carr
Joseph Pascarella
Steve Kelton
Michael Gasper
If nothing else, can the IAM at least quit using the "loaded gun" analogy? It was tired when Scotty Ford used it at UAL, and it's reaalll stale now.
May 17, 2006 1800CDT
Judge Ready to Rule at NWA
With testimony concluded in the 1113© bankruptcy trial to determine the fate of 50-year old labor agreements at Northwest Airlines, it’s time to examine where we stand and what we can expect in the days to come.
Telling both sides he could render his decision on abrogation after closing arguments on Friday, May 19, Judge Allan Gropper said he was giving NWA and the IAM “one last chance†to reach an agreement.
To anyone in the courtroom, the sound of a hammer being cocked was unmistakable.
The District 143 Negotiating Committee will meet Thursday in Minneapolis, MN and every effort will be made to produce a tentative agreement that we can recommend to our members.
Your committee has already been successful in negotiating improvements over the Company proposal rejected by the membership in March, but there are still some issues to address. In light of these improvements, if a tentative agreement is not possible, the IAM’s policy is to allow the membership to review and vote on the improved terms. An additional strike vote would also take place.
We are determined to preserve the contract language that generations of IAM members fought for, but we are also determined to protect our current members who are facing unprecedented pressure from a company on the brink of oblivion.
It is clear that an abrogation order would be lethal for NWA. While many members feel a crippling strike is just what NWA deserves, it is extremely doubtful the airline would ever emerge from bankruptcy after a strike.
And despite that potential for liquidation, it is all but certain that Judge Gropper will order contracts to be dissolved if a tentative agreement is not reached.
Abrogation of contracts at NWA would be no less serious for IAM members than it would be for Northwest. While representation rights would be preserved, all contract language would be replaced with terms set by Northwest. Seniority protections, grievance procedures and recall rights could be eliminated. Clearly, the stakes could not be higher.
It is critical that IAM members at Northwest understand how important the next few days are to their future and the future of the airline. We will post daily bulletins regarding the status of negotiations with the Company and any breaking news will be posted immediately at www.iam143.org.
Your ESSC Negotiating Committee,
Robert B. De Pace
Kevin Graf
David Carr
Joseph Pascarella
Steve Kelton
Michael Gasper
If nothing else, can the IAM at least quit using the "loaded gun" analogy? It was tired when Scotty Ford used it at UAL, and it's reaalll stale now.