Another blow to Mesaba
 

As if we needed this...We give them 15.8% in concessions, now they want to give the flying to BigSky. Perfect.



This is a Mesaba MEC Special Pilot Hotline for Wednesday January 3, 2007.

There is one item in this Hotline.



Item 1 – MAIR Letter

"As you know, ALPA has a letter of agreement with MAIR Holdings that is an appendix to our contract, requiring that any and all flying done by a subsidiary of MAIR is performed by Mesaba pilots (with the exception of Big Sky), and that Big Sky Airlines is limited to operating aircraft with 19 seats or less. The "MAIR Letter" also is bound to and incorporates the provisions of Section 1 (Scope and Job Security) of our contract.

On December 28, MAIR Holdings took two actions. First, it sent Duane Woerth an extremely brief letter stating that MAIR did not believe that the MAIR Letter is an enforceable contract, but if the MAIR Letter did constitute an enforceable contract, MAIR was terminating the contract. Second, that same date, MAIR commenced an action in Texas federal court seeking a declaratory judgment that the MAIR Letter was either terminated or void.

ALPA did not become aware until today that the lawsuit had been filed, most likely on account of the New Year Holiday, and the national day of mourning for President Ford which closed federal offices yesterday. The MEC is working with legal counsel to take all actions necessary to protect the rights of the Mesaba pilots. We will keep you updated as details emerge."



That is all for tonight. Currently 220 of our fellow pilots are on furlough.

Fly safe and fly the contract.

Is this a prelude to a NWA hostile take over (purchase) of Mesaba ? Does Mair have to void the letter of agreement in order to seek other business for Big Sky ?

The letter says:

"MAIR Holdings, Inc. owns and controls Mesaba and Big Sky Transportation Company (hereinafter referred to as "Big Sky"). MAIR Holdings, Inc. agrees that pilots on the Mesaba Pilots' System Seniority List will perform all flying for it or any of its airline subsidiaries, except Big Sky. Further, so long as Big Sky is controlled by MAIR holdings, Inc., it shall not operate aircraft with greater than 19 seats."

It says nothing about any change related to the sale of Mesaba, the assumption is then that as long as Mesaba stays solvent, the letter remains in force between MAIR and us so long as we both exist.

If Big Sky is to grow, they need to be sold by MAIR or the letter has to go away. There must be a plan for Big Sky to grow, or there would be no motivation for this court move.