Mechanics union rejects offer

A Northwest Airlines mechanic takes equipment via a three-wheeled bike to a plane at the Minneapolis-.St.Paul International Airport.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The union for Northwest Airlines mechanics on Tuesday defended its rejection of a last-minute offer by the airline, saying the Northwest proposal came up short in several areas, a wire service reports.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association national director O.V. Delle-Femine said the airline's proposal, although it may have appeared good, "didn't meet our criteria. There were other issues other than money."

The union, which represents about 9,500 mechanics, cleaners and custodians, on Tuesday outlined the proposal's shortcomings for its members. In a summary passed out to rank-and-file members of AMFA Local 33, which represents members in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, the union said the back pay offer didn't make up for substandard wages during 4 1/2 years that mechanics have sought a new contract.

The union also noted that Northwest's proposal was for a four-year contract, rather than the three-year deal previously discussed; overtime pay calculations would not have included premiums received for holding special licenses; and there would be no payoff for unused sick time on retirement.

In all, the union listed 20 objections to the Northwest offer.

AMFA had been prepared to go on strike against the nation's fourth-largest airline at 12:01 a.m. EST Monday. But President Bush appointed an emergency board last week that pushes any possible strike back to at least mid-May.

On Sunday, shortly before the emergency board was due to begin overseeing negotiations, Northwest offered a 26 percent initial wage increase, up from the 19 percent on the table; a 112 percent pension increase, up from 88 percent; and an increase of more than 100 percent in its retroactive payment to be divided among mechanics -- from $41 million to $88 million.

The offer would have increased hourly pay for an average senior mechanic to $33, up from the current rate of $26.25. The union had asked for a 40 percent raise to $36.84.

The rejected retroactive pay would have given an average veteran mechanic a lump sum of $10,000, up from the company's previous offer of $4,100. AMFA initially had been seeking about $87,000.

"Those are offers that, obviously, we really hoped that AMFA would accept. That was Northwest's offer to AMFA to close the deal," said Northwest spokesman Doug Killian. "It was a firm offer."

However, under terms of the negotiations, the offer was made as a "supposal." Such "supposals" come with an understanding that if they are rejected, negotiations revert to the previous table position.

That means the late offer by Northwest is no longer on the table and cannot be voted on by union members because it was rejected by AMFA negotiators.

The union, which planned to work on its proposal to put before the board this week at AMFA headquarters in Laconia, N.H., was hoping that the emergency board would look at the late offer by Northwest as a starting point.

Northwest disagrees.

"They rejected it, so now we go back to the table position," Killian said.

"Northwest's negotiating team went well beyond its initial offer of industry-leading pay and benefits to close the deal with AMFA. Now we're confident that the PEB recommendation will be fair and just, and Northwest will accept the PEB's final recommendation," Killian added.

Union officials haven't said whether they will accept the board's recommendation.