Airline criticized for sending US jobs overseas
January 12 2002 - Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) Local 33, serving Northwest Airlines claimed that 300 mechanics were laid off during 2001 in Minneapolis-St. Paul - and more than 200 more jobs are now threatened by Northwest Airlines plan to transfer skilled maintenance work elsewhere, including to low-cost, privately operated foreign repair stations.
The union also criticized Northwest for continuing to send U.S. aircraft maintenance jobs overseas after September 11 - while accepting a reported $500 million in federal relief money.
"We are always troubled when our members lose their jobs, but our current concerns go far beyond that," said AMFA Local 33 legislative liaison Jim Atkinson. "We don't think it's right for Northwest to accept $500 million of U.S. taxpayers' money while continuing to send skilled American jobs overseas. We also want assurance that the new FAA security regulations will be applied to workers at foreign repair stations who have access to Northwest aircraft. There's no point locking the front door in the U.S. while leaving the back door open overseas."
Atkinson also said that 67 more jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul could be lost if Northwest goes through with its plans to transfer responsibility for repairing Northwest's DC-10 aircraft line to a private repair station in Singapore. And another 150 skilled maintenance jobs at Northwest's Minneapolis-St. Paul hub could lost mid-2002 if responsibility for repairing one of two Boeing 757 aircraft lines is transferred. Jim Atkinson said that the union is contacting State officials and Minnesota's Congressional delegation about the issue.
Meanwhile, AirTran Airways announced that a group of its employees had voted against representation by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 528. Ballots for the election - conducted by the National Mediation Board - were mailed to the airlines 1,731 customer service, ramp and reservations agents on December 5, 2001. The National Mediation Board informed the airline that The Teamsters received 33% of total votes from ballots counted on January 11.
"AirTran Airways has always respected the rights of our Crew Members to decide upon representation. We are pleased with the confidence expressed in our Leadership Team," said Joe Leonard, AirTran Airways' chairman and chief executive officer. "We have an excellent relationship with the Teamsters, and we are dedicated to working with the union on issues affecting the 530 Teamsters-represented mechanics and related employees at AirTran Airways to maintain the growth and success of our airline."
AirTran Airways provides 336 flights a day to 36 cities in the eastern United States. Its main hub is at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport.