Judge orders Mesaba to hold off on pay cuts; to rule on unions' right to strike Monday
Associated Press
Last update: October 21, 2006 – 5:44 PM


A federal bankruptcy judge ordered Mesaba Airlines to wait until Thursday before imposing any pay cuts on its employees, as negotiations between the two sides appeared to be on hold for the weekend.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Gregory Kishel is scheduled to rule Monday on whether unions at Mesaba Aviation Inc. can strike if the feeder for Northwest Airlines Corp. imposes pay cuts on its workers.

Kishel ruled Oct. 16 that Mesaba can void its contracts with its pilots, flight attendants and mechanics unions and impose pay cuts on workers, but he directed management on Friday to delay that action until at least 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

Mesaba is seeking concessionary deals from the three unions as it seeks to hold creditors at bay. But no bargaining sessions were scheduled for this weekend.

"We anticipate talking with the unions next week before the Thursday deadline" for voiding current contracts and setting new work terms, Mesaba spokeswoman Elizabeth Costello said Friday.

If negotiations fail, Mesaba has told Kishel it intends to impose labor cost cuts of 17.5 percent on the unions.

Attorneys for Mesaba's pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics have argued that judges are legally barred from blocking strikes even when the consequences would be dire. The unions have also said it would be unfair to allow the company to impose the terms it wants while also taking away their right to strike, saying it would strip unions of any leverage they might have in negotiations.

I hope they get to walk. If this judge says no strike, then we are screwed. Not just pilots, but all unionized work.

The fact that a judge can rule that you are not allowed to take action when without any discussion companies can impose whatever terms they want on you is such a blaring example of how screwed up this system is. They mine as well just ask us to bend over and like it.

If there's one thing that we all need to collectively get together on is pushing for changes in that legislation. Sure national seniority lists and establishing minimum wages are great ideals, but the Railway Labor act is the root of all problems.

I ask someone with some real insight, what kind of steps can we take to make some serious changes to this situation?

i know its hard to say once your actually in the situation and have a family, but it be alot cooler if they kill the company rather than take a paycut
theres a breaking point somewhere where its just not worth it anymore

Yeah it definitely would throw a whole different perspective when you need that job to support a family.

I just wish that there would simply be that point where you say enough is enough put your foot down and and if you still are gonna do it we walk.

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