15-day countdown to strike, night of Aug. 15

[hp_fa]

Unless I am very far off, this judge really cannot determine whether a strike is legal or not under the terms of the RLA. He is simply a BK judge and has no absolutely no powers outside the BK, and even there he is inferior to a full federal judge in case an issue is referred to the federal court.

 

[aislehopper]

Unless I am very far off, this judge really cannot determine whether a strike is legal or not under the terms of the RLA.

I agree with you in part.

The management lawyers will argue that the judge will have the power to enjoin a strike based on bankruptcy law. The theory is the power comes from the power to keep creditors and others from taking from the bankruptcy estate. For example, if GE tries to repo an engine, bankruptcy stays that action until the judge can rule on it. The judge has the power to keep GE from taking the engine. The theory is that a strike is just another attempt to take from the bankruptcy estate. Therefore a judge has the power to enjoin it.

If the judge enjoins the strike, IMHO, the ruling will not be on a a RLA intrepretation basis and will likely stem from his powers under the bankruptcy code.

This is my guess. We will know soon enough how he will rule.

 

[Kev3188]

Here's the latest from the NWA employee site. The first paragraph is relevant; the rest is blather from the company:



"Court Hearing on Injunction Concludes

On Wednesday in New York, U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Judge Allan Gropper heard presentations from NWA and AFA on whether NWA flight attendants can engage in a strike or other strike related activities such as CHAOS. The hearing was called after AFA notified the airline that it was going to commence work actions against NWA customers starting as soon as August 15th and NWA requested an injunction to prohibit such activities. The court session lasted more than six hours and Judge Gropper has indicated that he will rule on the matter at a later date.

After the hearing, Mike Becker, SVP - human resources and labor relations, made the following comments to Newswire:

"Although NWA and AFA are engaged in this legal dispute, we remain strongly committed to working with AFA to reach a consensual, ratified collective bargaining agreement. We have consensual ratified agreements with ALPA, IAM, TWU, ATSA and NAMA and we would prefer one with AFA as well. We believe we are on common ground with AFA and our flight attendants on this point.

"We also believe we share a common interest with AFA and our flight attendants in restoring our airline to solid economic health. A strong, focused NWA will provide stable employment, meaningful careers, growth opportunities and a secure retirement. Because of our shared interests in these issues we were able to work together to bring about successful pension reform. It is also why our new profit sharing and performance incentive plans were designed to share NWA's success with the widest possible range of employees. A strong NWA means more planes, more routes, job and pension security.

"We also share an interest in working for a company we can all be proud of. NWA has a strong heritage and a culture of resourcefulness, determination and resolve. By focusing those resources on serving our customers and on operating an industry-leading airline, we can fulfill our shared desire to be part of a company that is a valued part of the economic fabric of our nation and the world and a welcome neighbor in every community we serve.

"The media is likely to report today's events as 'the fight between NWA and its flight attendants.' While we have our disagreements, there are many more issues that unite us rather than divide us. Even as we seek to resolve our issues of disagreement, I hope we can also remember that the issues we have in common - a focus on the customer and the economic well-being of NWA and our 30,000 employees - represent our opportunities for the future.

"Thank you for your many contributions to NWA.""

 

[LGA Fleet Service]

You have better odds of being struck twice by lightning on the day you win the lottery than you do of seeing a F/A strike at NW.

 

[FA Mikey]

Maybe the reason AFA decided to give NWA plenty of time to get a ruling against a strike.

 

[NWcustomer]

The compromise.


1. Board: Fire Steeland!
2. Board: Appoint an acting CEO.
3. Acting CEO: Pull a Ronald Regan: Fire FA’s that miss any work.
4. Passengers: pay $2.50 per segment. Distribute to the crew after each flight.

 

[FA Mikey]

The compromise.
1. Board: Fire Steeland!
2. Board: Appoint an acting CEO.
3. Acting CEO: Pull a Ronald Regan: Fire FA’s that miss any work.
4. Passengers: pay $2.50 per segment. Distribute to the crew after each flight.

Brilliant, what a plan! You must be the "go to guy" at your place of business.

Someone call NWA, problem solved right here at usaviation.com

 

[awayfrmitall]

Never mind again... I should learn how to read

 

[nbmcg01]

The compromise.
1. Board: Fire Steeland!
2. Board: Appoint an acting CEO.
3. Acting CEO: Pull a Ronald Regan: Fire FA’s that miss any work.
4. Passengers: pay $2.50 per segment. Distribute to the crew after each flight.

Of course you would be the first to be offended if anyone dared question your compensation or "work rules". Maybe the flight attendants should just pay you (and the company) for the privilege of being in a long thin tube with 200 NWcustomer's just like you. And considering the news this morning, I'm not certain I would want to be up in the friendly skies.

NW negotiated and signed those contracts that they have so readily abrogated. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all just dump our obligations because fuel is high, or any other number of reasons. No one forced them to agree to pension obligations or pay scales, or work rules. Airline negotiations are traditionally long, contentious, and when completed everyone "hugs". In the airline "pie" the f/a cost is hardly significant. It is also a tradition for airlines to try and blame the demise of the company, global warming, the war in Iraq, fuel cost, and world poverty on the f/as. Just because we're a traditionally female work force,( perceived as being "second incomes" ), we're an easy target. All airlines would love to have the cost of a new hire, never to be increased, as their ideal business model.

Sometimes you just have to say "no".

 

[MCI transplant]

<_< --- I hope the F/A's have a plan "B" in place!!!

 

[Nor'Easta]

<_< --- I hope the F/A's have a plan "B" in place!!!

Considering the junior flight attendants are quiting in record numbers; I would say they do.

My friend who flies for NW has a B plan in place. He is working at Nordstrom's as a sales person. He makes more at Nordstrom's then he does at NW.

 

[finman]

[quote name='Nor'Easta' post='405525' date='Aug 10 2006, 02:05 PM']He is working at Nordstrom's as a sales person. He makes more at Nordstrom's then he does at NW.[/quote]
Why is that such a shocking revelation? I hate to be blunt, but let's be honest about it. It doesn't take a lot of skill or ability to be an FA. Selling clothes at Nordstroms is probably a more difficult (and thus should be higher paid) position than passing out sodas as a flight attendant. How being an FA became a career choice is still a bit puzzling to me. It should be in the same job class as waiting tables, delivering pizza, and all the other transitional jobs in our economy. It's like it's the big pink elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about or admit, but when you look at the true demands of the job in an unbias manner, you can come to no other conclusion. What am I missing here?

 

[DCAflyer]

What am I missing here?

Apparently, a brain!

 

[a320av8r]

Why is that such a shocking revelation? I hate to be blunt, but let's be honest about it. It doesn't take a lot of skill or ability to be an FA. Selling clothes at Nordstroms is probably a more difficult (and thus should be higher paid) position than passing out sodas as a flight attendant. How being an FA became a career choice is still a bit puzzling to me. It should be in the same job class as waiting tables, delivering pizza, and all the other transitional jobs in our economy. It's like it's the big pink elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about or admit, but when you look at the true demands of the job in an unbias manner, you can come to no other conclusion. What am I missing here?

You, obviously, don't know what it takes to be a flight attendant. The long days, odd hours, loss of sleep, flea bag hotels, working in an 8000' cabin, training, etc.
I'd bet you work in an office...
I support and respect the NW F/A's.

 

[local 12 proud]

Why is that such a shocking revelation? I hate to be blunt, but let's be honest about it. It doesn't take a lot of skill or ability to be an FA. Selling clothes at Nordstroms is probably a more difficult (and thus should be higher paid) position than passing out sodas as a flight attendant. How being an FA became a career choice is still a bit puzzling to me. It should be in the same job class as waiting tables, delivering pizza, and all the other transitional jobs in our economy. It's like it's the big pink elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about or admit, but when you look at the true demands of the job in an unbias manner, you can come to no other conclusion. What am I missing here?

Thats rich 'finny' so you eqaute professionals who take your safety at 35,000 feet as nothing more than " waiting tables, delivering pizza, and all other transitional jobs"?

You're a moron To say the least. You also give praise to SCABS who cut corners in aircraft maintenance in order to keep the stats looking good, yet care less that safety is being compromised.

I Personally Can only hope you're hands have the next death grip on an arm wrest you idiot