Announce a furlough then penalize those pilots for getting a job. Corporate America at it's finest.
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Mesaba wants former pilots to pay for training
Tuesday April 18, 11:36 am ET

Mesaba Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy last October, is billing former pilots thousands of dollars for training costs, according to media reports.

The first-year pilots were notified in late 2005 that they would be furloughed in January or February. Some of the pilots found jobs prior to their furlough dates and gave Mesaba two weeks' notice.

Mesaba, a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based MAIR Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: MAIR - News), has sent certified letters to those pilots stating they must repay Mesaba within 30 days or their training bills will be turned over to a collection agency.

Mesaba said its actions are in accordance with the airline's contract with its pilots.

The pilots union said the payback provision has not been enforced in the past.

Mesaba flies regional flights for Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest Airlines Corp. (Pink Sheets: NWACQ - News), which operates a hub from Memphis International Airport.

Published April 18, 2006 by the Memphis Business Journal

What a bunch of scumbags.

Sounds like the NWA mentality of bending over your employees and forcing it in without any lube is trickling down to Mesaba... NWA needs to die a quick death.

How does this hold up in court? You never apply the policy to bill people who leave for their training, but now that you are bankrupt, you do? That is complete bull******. I hope the rats that run the show over there die a cruel death. Best of luck to all the pilot crew at Mesaba.

Hey Lug Nut ..... Mesaba is not NWA, or vice-versa. Mesaba is an entirely separate airline/corporation with it's own board of directors, etc. Before you start playing "God" and determine who should survive or die, get your facts straight!

After reading that article, I can't help my self but think that MESABA is in real financial trouble. Off-course filing for bankrupty protection indicates this, but going after former pilots they furloughed, is a real act of DESPERATION!

Makes me think that the airlines troubles are far worse then they let people believe...

These are the reasons I feel like I should go to American Eagle and be a F/O for 10 years.

Probably be good for the industry if both Delta and NWA closed up shop those fellows probably should have waited until the furlough was in effect...easier said than done I understand....what a crap industry

ata tried the same crap with their new hire furlough guys case . a delta pilot /aviation lawyer represented the pilots, maybe anyone can remeber his name. I believe ATA lost the case , can anyone confirm this? I would not pay $1.

So strange that through '00 - '04, Mesaba posted a 120 million profit. Now in bankrupcy..... Can anyone say MAIR Holdings skimming off the Top"?