Did anyone else at DU fly on Northwest recently? I flew today

[rzemanfl]

from Milwaukee to Memphis to Tampa. On arrival at Memphis they delayed opening the door until a mechanic looked at it. Then on Memphis to Tampa flight (different plane) boarding was delayed due to a "computer problem" then we stayed at the gate for about 10 minutes for another "computer problem" then we taxied out and had to return to the gate for another "computer problem." We got off the plane and back on about 20 minutes later and finally took off. Then I came home and saw on the news that another Northwest flight had mechanical problems and had to make an emergency landing after the crew manually lowered the front landing gear. Apparently the mechanic's strike is causing problems.

Kirstie Alley was on the Memphis to Tampa flight, so I at least got to see someone famous. She is not as fat as she was on her TV show.

[benburch]

1. I wouldn't fly on a struck airline.

I won't cross a picket line.

[blonndee]

2. Shit! I'm using NW to get to DC for the 24th!

I forgot about the strike. Dammit.

[KitchenWitch]

3. The strike may be over by then

The union and the management have been in heavy duty negotiations of late.

[blonndee]

5. Thanks for the info. I hope they do get it resolved.

I'm nervous about flying anyway, not to mention I wouldn't have booked w/them had I remembered about the strike just on principle.

[bettyellen]

6. the flight attendants are going out as soon as the mechanics strike is ove

r
yep. i'm sorry!
:(

[blonndee]

7. Crap. It's nonrefundable but I wonder if I can switch via expedia to

another airline...

Now I'm scared.

[progmom]

8. that doesn't seem certain yet

:shrug: at least...according to my bro, who is a NWA flight attendant.

[bettyellen]

17. wow, peacebuzzard sounded pretty sure....

i didn't realize your brother was NW. whoa that sucks.
:hug:

[MercutioATC]

4. Well, their mechanics ARE on strike right now.....

...and Northwest DOES own a bunch of planes older than I am.


(this is said strictly as somebody who watches the news and makes inferences based on what I hear, NOT as an air traffic controller)

[strategery blunder]

9. Meh

I grew up in the airline industry (Dad works for Delta and Mom used to work for Southwest and then United). You ain't seen nothing yet!:evilgrin:

[Clintmax]

10. Pretty soon, this mechanics strike is going to get someone killed!

These unions need to go away! There may have been a need for them at some point, but not now.

[progmom]

11. Northwest is demanding a 26% pay cut and the layoff of 2000 workers

I think they need their unions.

[Clintmax]

12. Hi, Progmom!

Don't get mad at me, now. Just my opinion.

Payroll is a companies largest controllable expense, so that's why pay cuts are always the first thing a company tries to do when they're in financial trouble. I'm sure fuel charges have skyrocketed for them too. I wouldn't be picketing if I worked for Northwest. I couldn't live with myself if something bad happened and a plane crashed and killed lots of people because it didn't get serviced by me because I was on strike so I wouldn't have to take a pay cut.

[progmom]

13. Hey Clintmax

The CEO of Northwest just took a huge bonus - I think it was $22 million.

My brother is a flight attendant. They're the next ones to be hit with demands. Northwest will be demanding a 40% pay cut. I'll tell you what - my brother won't be able to pay rent if that happens. But chances are he would be laid off anyway, as massive lay-offs are part of the demands as well.

[Clintmax]

14. Well, good gods!

Sounds typical of CEO's. Take more money and want to cut the people who your business couldn't operate without! That disgusts me! If it were me, I'd give it back.

I don't have an answer for the lay-offs. If I were running the company, I would go about it another way. Then again, I wouldn't be asking my employees for a 40% pay cut either.

This is a tough one. :shrug: I hope you don't hate me now, Progmom.

[progmom]

15. of course i don't hate you!

:hug: we're having a discussion. :)

[Bluebear]

16. "These unions need to go away!"

That's the GOP line. Unfortunately, so many of these companies are so mercenary and heartless, unions are an absolute necessity.