Northwest pickets say they won’t leave lines

updated 11:41 p.m. ET Aug. 27, 2005

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Hundreds of people gathered Saturday in support of striking Northwest Airlines workers, one week after union members walked off the job.

About 4,400 mechanics, cleaners and custodians represented by the Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association are refusing to take pay cuts and layoffs that would have reduced their ranks by nearly half and the wages of those remaining by about 25 percent. No new talks have been scheduled.

“Spirits are up. There’s a good feeling out there,” strike coordinator Mike Klemm said. “We all know this was forced upon us and everyone is determined to see it through.”

Mechanic Bob Williams said he’s been working on a resume, but hasn’t looked for jobs yet. His wife, Denise, and daughters Emily, 12, and Rachel, 10, made signs for the rally reading “FLY SAFE NWA. BRING MY DADDY BACK.”

Union leaders believe the airline is manipulating its departure and arrival information to make it look like there has been little disruption from the strike. But Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch called the allegations “completely baseless.”

Ebenhoch said operational performance has improved steadily since the strike.

“The biggest impact on our flight schedule right now is Hurricane Katrina,” he said.

Quick profile of Northwest Airlines — Destinations served: More than 232 in 25 countries. — Total aircraft: 433 — Hubs: Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul — Routes: Domestic strength in the U.S. Midwest. Internationally known for Asian routes with 200 nonstop flights weekly. — Major alliances: Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM   — Regional partners: Pinnacle Airlines Inc. and Mesaba Airlines Inc., both operating as Northwest Airlink. — Employees: Approximately 38,000. Sources: Northwest, SEC filings, Airport authorities.

The union said it would continue to focus on getting replacement workers to quit. On Tuesday members plan to picket a Minneapolis hotel where leaders say many of the replacement workers are staying.

Dozens of union members wore T-shirts that read “Scab Hunter.”

“Clearly, they know what they’re doing is wrong,” Steve MacFarlane, AMFA’s assistant national director, said of the replacement workers. “If we challenge them in that situation, often they’ll leave.”

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