Airline Pilot Central Forums - Northwest pilots to picket MEM

Memphis Business Journal - 2:49 PM CST Monday
Northwest Airlines pilots to picket in Memphis

Northwest Airlines pilots will picket at Memphis International Airport from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, the Air Line Pilots Association announced.

The pilots have been conducting informational picketing on Friday and Monday in Minneapolis, Detroit, Anchorage and Memphis to demonstrate "their frustration with Northwest Airlines' demands for concessions," ALPA said in a statement.

Northwest pilots began voting on Feb. 13 to authorize a strike, and ballots will be counted on Feb. 28.

In response, Northwest said in a statement, "We do not believe that ALPA has the legal right to strike if the bankruptcy court judge allows the airline to abrogate its current contracts with those unions. If ALPA would attempt to strike, Northwest Airlines would seek an immediate injunction."

Northwest continues its discussions with ALPA and the Professional Flight Attendants Association with the goal of reaching consensual agreements before the bankruptcy court judge rules on the company's section 1113(c) motion for temporary contract relief, Northwest said in the statement.

Founded in 1931, ALPA represents 62,000 pilots at 39 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. ALPA represents approximately 5,000 active NWA pilots and 700 furloughed NWA pilots.

Northwest Airlines Corp. (Pink Sheets: NWACQ) has hubs in Memphis, Detroit and Minneapolis.