Originally Posted by
sailingfun
You need to provide context for why a strike was allowed. NWA management specifically requested access to self help and that there be no government intervention to prevent self help from either side. Technically the mechanics were locked out. Their only real hope was support from the pilots which did not happen.
Northwest made it clear it would declare a lockout if the mechanics union decided not to strike when a 30-day “cooling-off” period expired at midnight Friday. The company had boasted of having prepared for the past 18 months to launch a strikebreaking operation and had spent over $100 million to hire and house “replacement” mechanics and flight attendants. The airline lined up 1,200 nonunion mechanics, plus 400 vendor workers and 300 managers for a total strikebreaking force of 1,900.
If I remember correctly, a strike occurred because an impasse was declared. You are absolutely correct, NWA threatened a strikebreaking operation. The mechanics (and aircraft cleaners) set up picket lines and NWA carried through with the threat of replacement workers. Following that, NWA set a deadline for all striking mechanics to return; the cleaners were outta luck. Over the next few weeks, several of the mechanics did return to work. Yes, they crossed a picket line. However AMFA, their union, really did them a disservice. AMFA was full of bravado, slighted other NWA unionized groups, and at the end of the day mislead the mechanics. The airline was heading into bankruptcy and for some reason they still felt bulletproof. Once it became obvious the strike was crumbling, AMFA began reaching out to the other employee groups for support. "Um No" was the collective response. There are times when striking is the logical choice (ie- NWA pilots '98). This wasn't one of those times.