NWA pilots hold informational picket

Northwest Pilots are so unhappy with the airline's contract demands they're picketing at Minneapolis Saint Paul International.

This was an informational picket. The pilots say they want the public to know the extent of the concessions they've already made to help Northwest Airlines survive bankruptcy and that they aren't willing to make anymore.

"We also are at the end of our rope when it comes to concessions. We feel we've done enough and they need to understand that," said Pilot's Union president Mark McLain.

The Pilot's say they've voluntarily taken pay cuts totaling 39 percent over the last two years but that Northwest Management wants an additional $145 million a year in concessions. The well, the pilot's contend, only runs so deep.

The union says some of its members no longer qualify for their own mortgage.

"Some people are selling homes or changing educational plans for their children and looking at other career options," said McLain.

Labor experts say informational picket speaks volumes, "They're simply asserting that they do have some leverage and they do," said Professor John Remington of the Carlson School of Management.

The ongoing mechanics strike has had little effect on the airline's day to day operations, but a pilot's strike would be a different story said Remington, "It's much different if pilots are considering engaging in a work stoppage because they are much harder to replace. Even if the airline wanted to permanently replace them or threaten permanent replacements, it's much harder to do than it is for mechanics."

"If the Northwest pilots go on strike, Northwest Airlines would shut down and cease operations," said McLain. To which KARE 11 reporter Brad Woodard asked, "Perhaps for good?". McLain nodded and said, "perhaps for good."

Northwest says it is in the process of creating a new airline with a goal of only having to fix its problems once.

Northwest serves more small to medium markets than any other domestic carrier and says it needs to resize much of its fleet with smaller, regional aircraft and those flights would be outsourced to a separate, Northwest controlled airline called NewCo.

It's a move the pilots strongly disagree with and in fact, call it a deal breaker.

By Brad Woodard, KARE 11 News

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