Judge rules Mesaba mechanics cannot strike

08/20/2005

John Reinan,
Star Tribune
August 20, 2005

Union mechanics at Mesaba Aviation are forbidden from taking part in any strike, work stoppage or slowdown in support of Northwest Airlines mechanics, a federal judge ruled today.

U.S. District Judge David Doty issued a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order that prevents Mesaba members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) from joining in a potential strike at 11:01 tonight by more than 4,000 AMFA members at Northwest. There are about 270 AMFA members at Mesaba, which handles regional flights under contract with Northwest.

Doty ordered the union to give written, hand-delivered notice of his ruling to every mechanic and to take disciplinary action against any mechanic who violates it.

Also today, Northwest sought a similar injunction to prevent its flight attendants from launching a sympathy strike, sick-out or any other job action in support of a mechanics’ strike. There was no ruling today on the injunction.

The Professional Flight Attendants Association, which represents about 10,000 Northwest flight attendants, is voting on whether to call a sympathy strike on behalf of the mechanics. Voting closed at 5 p.m. today, but the union has not released the results.

Northwest wants its flight attendants to take pay cuts averaging about 20 percent.