August 09, 2005
NWA Mechanics Threated Strike; Execs Threated Outsourcing
US Airline providers have had nothing but bad news since 2001. It is quite apparent that the industry is saturated and that the only reasonable solution will be to allow some airliners to fall. Having said that, Northwest Airlines announced that a planned strike by company mechanics may lead to further outsourcing of mechanic work. The airline is attempting to cut wages and the mechanics have staged a union strike in protest. In response, the airline is attempting to scare the union from striking by stating that it will eliminate the jobs of those who strike.
It is a difficult period for organized labor. Unlike previous threats, the threat to entirely eliminate all heavy maintenance is a very real possibility today. It is simply unfeasible to for many airliners to maintain heavy maintenance in-house when they are under constant price pressure from competitors. Such work also introduces further legacy costs which are swallowing US providers. This report by NWA seems a direct attack on unions, but there is little public sympathy today for organized labor as there was a few decades ago. Miami.com reports:
Further, executives say the airline will use its overseas bases to do more maintenance work on planes used for international flights. The airline will also shift some work now done by union mechanics to other classes of employees. For example, pushing airplanes back from the gates.
Read More: NWA chief: Strike will mean more outsourcing of mechanic jobs
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