A Labor Day fete for NWA mechanics

09/06/2005

Margaret Zack,
Star Tribune
September 6, 2005

Support for striking Northwest Airlines mechanics was obvious even before attendees passed through the gates on St. Paul’s Harriet Island for the annual Labor Day picnic put on by the St. Paul Area Trades and Labor Assembly. Outside the gates they were asked to sign petitions supporting the workers.

Inside the gates, some striking mechanics wore black T-shirts carrying the insignia of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).

AMFA member Steve Mack said that regardless of which union they belong to, picnic attendees know the importance of fighting for fair wages.

He also said the strike—which has been underway since Aug. 19—isn’t going as well as Northwest says it is.

Joe Callahan, wearing a red T-shirt printed with “I Support Northwest Workers” said: “If the mechanics’ union is broken, others will, too. This is very important for all union members.”

Others wore white T-shirts that said: “NW Airlines on Strike” on the front and “NWA Unfair To Labor” on the back.

Northwest, based in Eagan, has said it needs $1.1 billion in labor savings from its workers. Only pilots have agreed, accepting a 15 percent pay cut worth $300 million when combined with cuts for salaried employees. The airline is negotiating with ground workers and flight attendants, and it has said it can reopen talks with pilots once it gets concessions from the other groups.

Northwest has hired about 1,200 replacement workers and has said that service is near normal.

Those attending the Labor Day picnic couldn’t miss the signs for DFLer Chris Coleman, who is running for St. Paul mayor. The signs were attached to a fire truck that had been at the site of the World Trade Center in New York after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Coleman said his message is about basic rights and health benefits for working Americans.

And what question was he most asked?

“You’re not going to turn Republican, are you?” he said.

“The answer is a firm no,” Coleman said.

The reference was to U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, a former St. Paul mayor, who switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.

There were a variety of other labor-related activities.

The green campaign bus of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone had a prominent spot on the picnic grounds and people with Wellstone T-shirts, bags and campaign signs.

Wellstone was killed in a plane crash in October 2002.

Merideth Cleary of the United Steelworkers was gathering signatures on a petition asking Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Legislature to pass laws requiring that 20 percent of the state’s energy come from renewable sources.