Northwest to cut 600 mechanic jobs

[UpInArms]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5346168.html

Northwest Airlines plans to cut about 600 mechanic jobs in the Twin Cities in July.

Bill Mellon, a Northwest spokesman, said today that the airline has notified the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) of the pending layoffs.

The job cuts do not come as a shock.

The airline said in mid-March that it planned to ground 30 DC-9 aircraft and that could produce up to 900 AMFA job cuts during 2005.

High fuel costs and weak pricing power on airline tickets were cited as reasons for the airline's decision to shrink its fleet.

"Layoff notices were previously announced for 140 positions," Mellon said.

...more...

Sure makes me want to fly - Look Ma! No Mechanics!

[mhr]

1. Go Bush Go - Layoff All Americans Now - Who Needs To Work?

eom

[DELUSIONAL]

2. Oh this makes me feel safe flying Northwest --- NOT

[barb162]

3. all I am reading is layoff notices these days

[MaineDem]

4. I'm glad I'm reading this AFTER I flew on Northwest last week

Way too many layoff notices lately.

GW is uniting us on the unemployment line!

[Lindacooks]

5. And Northwest outsources the 'heavy maintenance' on its planes.

And here's something interesting:

"Northwest, which is in contract talks with its mechanics, has the right to outsource up to 38 percent of its airplane maintenance.

Last month, the president of the Twin Cities mechanics union at Northwest Airlines was suspended for questioning the safety of outsourced aircraft repairs."

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/11369178.htm

This was part of an article about a 200 pound piece of an airplane that fell off after takeoff last week in Minnesota. The jet's heavy maintenance was outsourced, according to WCCO TV.

[proud_dem]

6. Yeah.....

I will never fly. I have no intention of being in the air on an aircraft that is maintenanced by india and china with parts made in their countries. !


Well I am sure the loss of these jobs will result in better more high paying ones that the bushco admin are creating ...yeah right!

[Berserker]

7. One of the Mechanics for NW

on the local news here said: Make sure you prey before you fly!

[proud_dem]

8. I believe it ... only I won't need to cause I ain't flying period ! eom

[Lindacooks]

12. I'm not flying either.

Anywhere I need to go, I can drive.

And the only place I really loved to vacation was the Gulf Coast of Florida, and I'm not going there anyway with one of the Bush brats in power.

[cosmicdot]

10. what does "Northwest...has the right to outsource up to 38 percent ...

... of its airplane maintenance" ... mean?

why do they? says who? and, even if, must they?


It's almost symbolic of a decline and fall: laying off the mechanics. As if America is closed for business ... you all can go home now. The party is over.

[Neecy]

9. AA is cutting mechanics as well

The trend seems to be to reduce the number of highly paid union positions and outsourcing to cheap FBO's. The mechanics being laid off right and left from many carriers will probably end up working for a FBO, for less than half the pay and benefits, working on the same planes and doing the exact same work.

The race to the bottom - courtesy of the Bush administration and greedy CEOs.

[xchrom]

11. remind me NOT to fly northwest.

god -- if there's one group that i want to hear that airlines are not firing -- it's the mechanics.

[LiberallyInclined]

13. it's cheaper to fly the planes to costa rica-

for low-Costa heavy maintenence.
ALL the airlines are(or soon will be) doing it.

[amandabeech]

14. I wonder how high fuel prices must rise in order to make a

long journey to Costa Rica and back a real money-winner?

[LiberallyInclined]

16. what i'm guessing-

the fuel costs involved with flying to a maintenance facility are a deductable business expense.

[truthisfreedom]

15. nice to read this, knowing i have a flight coming up in a few weeks.

on northwest. sh*t.