CHICAGO (Reuters) - Northwest Airlines Corp. (NWAC.O), embroiled in contentious labor negotiations, is seeking flight attendants to replace those who may walk off the job if talks break down.þþEmphasizing Northwest's determination to keep on flying in the face of any strike, chief executive Doug Steenland on Tuesday said the airline must be able to get passengers to their destinations regardless of internal labor disputes.þþSpeaking at a Merrill Lynch transportation conference in New York, Steenland said: ``We are in the process of completing a contingency plan for that potential development. In our judgment, we're going to be able to get our customers to the destination that they had planned us getting them to.''þþAn advertisement on Monster.com, a job search Web site, is soliciting applicants for a program that trains flight attendants. The posting, dated June 6, asks candidates to complete a pre-screening interview by June 12.þþ``Individuals who successfully complete flight attendant training may be offered employment in the event of a labor dispute or strike,'' the ad says.þþSimilar advertisements appeared in at least one newspaper as well. The No. 4 U.S. airline is bracing for a possible labor strike arising from contract negotiations. Northwest is seeking $1.1 billion in annual labor savings.þþSteenland reiterated the carrier's stance that it hopes to get its needed savings through collective bargaining. He said that if a labor dispute resulted in any kind of work stoppage, the airline would be prepared.þþThe airline has asked the flight attendants for $148 million in annual savings, said Jeff Gardner, vice president of the Professional Flight Attendants Association.þþ``It doesn't appear to be good-faith bargaining,'' Gardner said. ``We've only had 13 face-to-face meetings with the company.''þþGardner said it is premature for Northwest to brace for a labor strike, considering that there has been no formal strike threat issued.þþThe airline, however, has said it must prepare for a possible labor dispute that could result in a strike.þþ``Northwest is aware of significant strike planning activity underway at several of its unions,'' the carrier said in a statement. ``If one of its unions chooses to strike the carrier or engage in job actions with the intent of causing disruption at some point in the future, Northwest must be prepared to protect its operations.''þþNegotiations have been underway since April, Gardner said. The flight attendants' contract became amendable on June 1.þþOn May 25, Northwest announced it would recall 695 furloughed flight attendants beginning July 31 due to anticipated staffing needs for the second half of 2005.þþLast week the union representing Northwest's mechanics said the airline has hired about 400 mechanics to replace those who may strike if negotiations on a labor deal fail. The airline, however, has denied that it has hired replacement workers.þþNorthwest has said that while it prefers to settle any contract disputes through negotiations, it has ``developed contingency plans to be prepared for any eventuality.''þþThe Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association said last week that Northwest has declared an impasse in negotiations and has asked the National Mediation Board to release the parties from mediation, calling for a 30-day cooling off period.þþAMFA has until June 8 to respond to the request. The Railway Labor Act prohibits airline employees from striking while in mediated contract negotiations.þþSteenland also said Northwest hopes to complete its restructuring outside of Chapter 11 protection. But he acknowledged the possibility, saying the airline is not ``in 100 percent control'' of its restructuring efforts.þþ``It's clearly an option we are committed to doing our best to avoid,'' he said. ``Having said that. I'm not going to criticize a United or a US Airways for going that route.''þþUAL Corp's (UALAQ.OB) United Airlines and US Airways Group (UAIRQ.OB) are both restructuring in Chapter 11. þþ
Source: NY Times
