NWA mechanics lose layoff dispute
Published February 19, 2004 NWA19OL
An arbitrator has ruled that Northwest Airlines was justified in invoking the 2001 terrorist attacks to lay off hundreds of mechanics.
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) had argued that the layoffs were really caused by economic conditions -- and said its contract prevented layoffs for that reason. Northwest, based in Eagan, had invoked the "force majeure" clause of its contract that allows layoffs for some events outside of the company's control, such as an act of war.
Northwest laid off about 600 mechanics, custodians and aircraft cleaners soon after the attacks, said Jeff Mathews, contract coordinator for the Northwest AMFA. He said about 4,800 Northwest ground workers have been laid off since Sept. 11, 2001.
The arbitrator issued the ruling Jan. 25, but neither the airline nor the union announced it. A Northwest spokesman declined to comment Wednesday.
The union also is fighting Northwest layoffs made after the war in Iraq began. Mathews said the war was just an excuse for Northwest to make layoffs it had planned in advance.
"The day after the war broke out, they laid off 2,125 technicians. They were waiting in the weeds, waiting for the excuse," he said.
In February 2003, Delta canceled the planned furlough of 20 pilots after an arbitrator ruled that the layoffs were a result of the nation's poor economy and not the Sept. 11 attacks. The decision froze pilot furloughs at 1,060. But other airlines successfully have defended layoffs made under force majeure clauses.
Associated Press
Published February 19, 2004 NWA19OL
An arbitrator has ruled that Northwest Airlines was justified in invoking the 2001 terrorist attacks to lay off hundreds of mechanics.
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) had argued that the layoffs were really caused by economic conditions -- and said its contract prevented layoffs for that reason. Northwest, based in Eagan, had invoked the "force majeure" clause of its contract that allows layoffs for some events outside of the company's control, such as an act of war.
Northwest laid off about 600 mechanics, custodians and aircraft cleaners soon after the attacks, said Jeff Mathews, contract coordinator for the Northwest AMFA. He said about 4,800 Northwest ground workers have been laid off since Sept. 11, 2001.
The arbitrator issued the ruling Jan. 25, but neither the airline nor the union announced it. A Northwest spokesman declined to comment Wednesday.
The union also is fighting Northwest layoffs made after the war in Iraq began. Mathews said the war was just an excuse for Northwest to make layoffs it had planned in advance.
"The day after the war broke out, they laid off 2,125 technicians. They were waiting in the weeds, waiting for the excuse," he said.
In February 2003, Delta canceled the planned furlough of 20 pilots after an arbitrator ruled that the layoffs were a result of the nation's poor economy and not the Sept. 11 attacks. The decision froze pilot furloughs at 1,060. But other airlines successfully have defended layoffs made under force majeure clauses.
Associated Press
