Bankruptcy Judge Allows Mesaba to Abrogate Contract

Following the July 14 decision by a federal bankruptcy judge allowing Mesaba Airlines to throw out its contract with AFA-CWA members, flight attendants put management on notice that if it imposes drastic wage and benefit cuts, "there will be CHAOS at Mesaba Airlines." CHAOS is AFA-CWA's workplace mobilization and action plan.

Tim Evenson, Mesaba Master Executive Council president, said "we simply will not accept this injustice" and said Mesaba flight attendants would fight for flight attendants across the industry who also are facing the threat of losing their contracts through the bankruptcy process. 

Mesaba management is demanding wage and benefit cuts of 19.4 percent for six years; some flight attendants would earn less than $10,000 a year after paying for insurance benefits for full-time work.

CWA convention delegates this week voted support for the 450 Mesaba flight attendants in their contract fight.