Mesaba Airlines pilots ratify new contract
Posted: Saturday, January 31, 2004
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Unionized pilots for Mesaba Airlines announced on Friday the ratification a new five-year contract that was the product of 2 1/2 years of negotiations with the airline.
"It's very positive," said airline spokesman Dave Jackson of the mood at Mesaba Airlines in Eagan after the announcement. "We are looking forward to the future."
The union announced early Friday afternoon that the contract was approved by 66 percent of those voting. It was signed later in the day.
"I appreciate the patience of our pilots and the rest of our employees during the negotiation process," John Spanjers, president and chief operating officer of Mesaba Aviation, said in a release. "This contract should position us well to compete for growth with our partner Northwest Airlines, and it will also allow us to manage our costs through the continuing uncertainties in the airline industry."
The negotiations for the contract included a 42-hour non-stop bargaining session after pilots rolled their strike deadline Jan. 9.
Mesaba, which employs about 845 pilots, was forced to temporarily suspend flights during this period, but the pilots never actually went on strike.
Voting began last Jan. 23 and the polls closed at 11 a.m. Friday. A simple majority was required to ratify the contract. The total number of voters was not available.
Contract improvements in job security, wages, retirement, and work rules were the top issues for the pilot group, which is represented by the Air Line Pilots Association.
Union officials said nearly every section of the contract was enhanced.
"Despite a tough environment in the airline industry, pilots have achieved a contract that secures their jobs and provides overdue increases to their compensation and retirement," said Capt. Tom Wychor, chairman of the Mesaba unit of ALPA.
The new contract binds Mesaba's holding company, MAIR Holdings, to all flying opportunities including all future growth at Mesaba or any other future MAIR subsidiary, the union said.
The job security provisions also state that Big Sky Airlines, which operates out of Billings, Mont., will be restricted to its current operation of aircraft that have 19 seats or less.
"Any new flying that Mesaba or MAIR Holdings gains, whether it comes from Northwest Airlines or another carrier, will be flown by Mesaba pilots," said Mesaba pilot and union spokesman Kris Pierson.
Pilots will see pay increases effective Jan. 31 that range from 5 percent to 27 percent. Entry-level pilots who had been paid only $17,000 will jump to $21,600.
In addition, the pilots will get annual longevity increases and additional pay bumps that average 3 percent per year during the five-year contract. Overall, wages will increase by 37 percent on average to the end of the contract.
Mesaba Airlines operates as a Northwest Jet Airlink and Northwest Airlink partner for Northwest Airlines. Mesaba serves 111 cities in 20 states and Canada from Northwest's three major hubs: Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Memphis, Tenn.
In North Dakota, Mesaba serves Bismarck, Devils Lake, Fargo, Grand Forks and Jamestown. It provides the only commercial service for Devils Lake and Jamestown.
"It's very positive," said airline spokesman Dave Jackson of the mood at Mesaba Airlines in Eagan after the announcement. "We are looking forward to the future."
The union announced early Friday afternoon that the contract was approved by 66 percent of those voting. It was signed later in the day.
"I appreciate the patience of our pilots and the rest of our employees during the negotiation process," John Spanjers, president and chief operating officer of Mesaba Aviation, said in a release. "This contract should position us well to compete for growth with our partner Northwest Airlines, and it will also allow us to manage our costs through the continuing uncertainties in the airline industry."
The negotiations for the contract included a 42-hour non-stop bargaining session after pilots rolled their strike deadline Jan. 9.
Mesaba, which employs about 845 pilots, was forced to temporarily suspend flights during this period, but the pilots never actually went on strike.
Voting began last Jan. 23 and the polls closed at 11 a.m. Friday. A simple majority was required to ratify the contract. The total number of voters was not available.
Contract improvements in job security, wages, retirement, and work rules were the top issues for the pilot group, which is represented by the Air Line Pilots Association.
Union officials said nearly every section of the contract was enhanced.
"Despite a tough environment in the airline industry, pilots have achieved a contract that secures their jobs and provides overdue increases to their compensation and retirement," said Capt. Tom Wychor, chairman of the Mesaba unit of ALPA.
The new contract binds Mesaba's holding company, MAIR Holdings, to all flying opportunities including all future growth at Mesaba or any other future MAIR subsidiary, the union said.
The job security provisions also state that Big Sky Airlines, which operates out of Billings, Mont., will be restricted to its current operation of aircraft that have 19 seats or less.
"Any new flying that Mesaba or MAIR Holdings gains, whether it comes from Northwest Airlines or another carrier, will be flown by Mesaba pilots," said Mesaba pilot and union spokesman Kris Pierson.
Pilots will see pay increases effective Jan. 31 that range from 5 percent to 27 percent. Entry-level pilots who had been paid only $17,000 will jump to $21,600.
In addition, the pilots will get annual longevity increases and additional pay bumps that average 3 percent per year during the five-year contract. Overall, wages will increase by 37 percent on average to the end of the contract.
Mesaba Airlines operates as a Northwest Jet Airlink and Northwest Airlink partner for Northwest Airlines. Mesaba serves 111 cities in 20 states and Canada from Northwest's three major hubs: Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Memphis, Tenn.
In North Dakota, Mesaba serves Bismarck, Devils Lake, Fargo, Grand Forks and Jamestown. It provides the only commercial service for Devils Lake and Jamestown.
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