Mesaba Airlines filed a motion in bankruptcy court today that requests authority to reject the collective bargaining agreements with the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA). The unions have made every effort possible to respond to management's request for cost savings, but are at odds over the depth of management's proposed cuts, especially in light of the enormous sums of money that Mesaba has transferred to its parent, MAIR Holdings.
"It is outrageous for Mesaba management to go to these extremes to gut our pay, work rules and benefits, especially in light of the fact that Mesaba has been profitable for many years," stated Kevin Wildermuth, Negotiating Committee chairman of the Mesaba AMFA unit. "Our technicians have worked hard on behalf of our company, and our profitability led us to believe that our futures were secure."
"ALPA has yet to see proof that these concessions are warranted – and certainly not concessions that would force professional, skilled pilots' income levels to drop below federal poverty guidelines," claimed Captain Tom Wychor, chairman of the Mesaba ALPA unit. "It is clear that Mesaba is simply trying to manipulate the bankruptcy process to attack labor, and it is wrong."
Mesaba management has proposed to slash wages while also imposing a 60% increase in health insurance premiums. Management is also seeking the right to outsource many jobs currently protected by job security provisions. Pilot pay currently starts at $21,000 per year. Flight attendants earn just $14,000 in starting pay, and mechanics start at $27,000. The cuts proposed by Mesaba are drastic -- in 2012 a starting pilot who elects family health insurance will gross just $10,700 annually.
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"It is outrageous for Mesaba management to go to these extremes to gut our pay, work rules and benefits, especially in light of the fact that Mesaba has been profitable for many years," stated Kevin Wildermuth, Negotiating Committee chairman of the Mesaba AMFA unit. "Our technicians have worked hard on behalf of our company, and our profitability led us to believe that our futures were secure."
"ALPA has yet to see proof that these concessions are warranted – and certainly not concessions that would force professional, skilled pilots' income levels to drop below federal poverty guidelines," claimed Captain Tom Wychor, chairman of the Mesaba ALPA unit. "It is clear that Mesaba is simply trying to manipulate the bankruptcy process to attack labor, and it is wrong."
Mesaba management has proposed to slash wages while also imposing a 60% increase in health insurance premiums. Management is also seeking the right to outsource many jobs currently protected by job security provisions. Pilot pay currently starts at $21,000 per year. Flight attendants earn just $14,000 in starting pay, and mechanics start at $27,000. The cuts proposed by Mesaba are drastic -- in 2012 a starting pilot who elects family health insurance will gross just $10,700 annually.
PR Newswire
