Northwest Appears to Be Making Political Deal to Replace Duluth Maintenance Employees with Out-of-Staters; Current Duluth Employees Deserve First Shot at Jobs If Airbus Takes over Base

DULUTH, Minn.--April 18, 2005--Northwest Airlines appears to be cutting a political deal to turn its Duluth aircraft maintenance base over to European private contractor Airbus and replace Minnesota employees working there now with out-of-staters, according to Minnesota officials of the Aircraft Maintenance Fraternal Association (AMFA).

"There's a high level of concern among Duluth employees, despite denials by Northwest and Bill Richard, chief of staff for Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN), who represents the Duluth area. We observed Congressman Oberstar in a recent private meeting with Northwest at the Airport Hilton in Bloomington, because we were told in advance about the meeting location and topic by a Northwest official. When Bill Richard learned we knew about this meeting, he warned us in two telephone conversations that we 'would spoil the whole deal' if we went to the press, then in the third phone call he said the deal was just a rumor. Also, Airbus people have been at the Duluth base recently, and now no one is returning our calls, which is highly unusual," said Chris Anderson, president of AMFA Local 35 in Duluth. "When you put this all together, it's cause for concern. We're trying to keep people calm, but it's not easy."

"The irony here is that we were the ones who originally suggested that the State and Northwest talk with Airbus about building their new maintenance base in Duluth to, hopefully, get our laid-off guys who have vast Airbus experience back to work. We never dreamed they would cut a deal to eliminate our members by closing down the base, and outsourcing our work to Airbus," said Ted Ludwig, president of Twin Cites-based AMFA Local 33. "Our Minnesota technicians have more experience maintaining Airbus planes than just about anyone in the world. They deserve the first shot at whatever jobs open up if Airbus takes over the base.

"We assume that if a deal is in the works as it appears to be, Congressman Oberstar will fight hard to make sure those jobs stay with Duluth technicians already working at the base, and will not allow Minnesota employees and their families to suffer while out-of-staters are brought in to replace them," Ludwig said. "Congressman Oberstar is a man of honor who has always been a strong advocate for preserving the jobs of Minnesota workers. We're confident he would insist that we be brought into the discussions before any deal was concluded."