Organizing Roundup: Northwest Flight Attendants Pick AFA-CWA, Threaten Strike

Following a vote early last month for representation by AFA-CWA, flight attendants at Northwest Airlines were poised for a possible strike or "Chaos" job actions as the bankrupt airline imposed drastic wage and benefit cuts at CWA News press time.

AFA-CWA on July 31 issued a 15-day notice of intent to strike and was seeking to return to the bargaining table after members rejected a tentative contract that included $195 million in concessions ordered by the bankruptcy court.

Prior to July 6, the 9,200 employees were represented by an independent union with no experience in bankruptcy proceedings.  The current bargaining situation is complicated by the fact that a concessionary agreement negotiated by that union, and rejected by 80 percent of the workers in March, was already approved by the court.  The airline has now imposed terms of that agreement, which cuts wages and benefits by a total of 40 percent.

Working within the court-mandated framework, AFA-CWA negotiators attempted to improve some provisions of the previous agreement, but members rejected the revised package by a 55-45 margin.  "Our members have spoken.  These drastic cuts to our pay, benefits and work rules are simply unacceptable," said Mollie Reiley, interim president of the AFA-CWA Northwest master executive council.

Even though Northwest has imposed contract terms, the airline is free to come back to the table and negotiate a new settlement.

Meanwhile, a strike threat looms, and the union is training workers in Chaos tactics, which could include targeted and sporadic job actions to "create havoc around our system."

Northwest flight attendants conduct informational picketing at Minneapolis-St. Paul airport in mid-July.