ALPA says NWA attacking pilot job security

Duane Woerth, a spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) said yesterday that Northwest Airlines is attacking job security provisions in its negotiations with its pilots.

"Management is attacking the fundamental job security clauses," Woerth said at the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit. "If we don't get a deal, it's because of the scope (of those attacks) at Northwest."

Bankrupt Northwest Airlines had asked the court's permission to cancel labor contracts of employee groups that do not agree to certain concessions.

ALPA and Northwest are in talks on a permanent labor contract to save the embattled carrier $358 million annually. The group of about 5,200 pilots last month agreed to a temporary 24-percent pay cut as well as work rule changes that could save Northwest 60 percent of the amount it seeks.

In return for the temporary concessions, Northwest withdrew a request of the bankruptcy court for permission to void the workers' contract.

Mr. Woerth, quoted in a Reuters article, said that he is confident that a deal will be reached between Northwest and ALPA, but that the carrier is asking for too much flexibility on job security clauses.

"No one is blinking just because it's hardball," he said.