SMAAC urges no further concessions to Delta/ Northwest

Citizens and labor representatives urged state legislators Tuesday night, Dec. 2,
to oppose any requests for more business, lease and loan concessions to the
newly-merged Delta/ Northwest Airlines in forthcoming negotiations with the state or the Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC). 

Jim Spensley, South Metro Airport Action Council (SMAAC) president and forum moderator, pointed out that Delta, who plans to eliminate 1,000 Northwest managerial jobs in Eagan and possibly more at the  airport, now wants to re-negotiate terms of loan, lease and airport revenue-sharing agreements with MAC to pay for the merger.

 “We believe the Legislature and the MAC should be talking about how much
commerce and how many jobs would be gained if MSP were safer and fares were more competitive

compared to non-hub cities.”  Spensley said. “Too much safety is being given up and too little economic benefit is being gained.  As Delta strives to cut $1 billion in costs and service, its intent is to remain dominant and high-priced while hub costs are subsidized by passengers, bond-holders and taxpayers.”
The appeal was one of several issued by groups appearing at a roundtable discussion with five legislators over airline service and airport management concerns on the eve of the 2009 legislative session. The forum was sponsored by SMAAC, the community’s oldest continuing airport watchdog body.

“Further,” Spensley warned, “the merger’s aftermath could produce other negative effects on state economic development, through continued high fares, more service reductions, transfer of other business operations, outsourcing of  some high-tech maintenance and flight attendant positions, reduced union wage and benefits and work-rule concessions.

Sen. Scott Dibble and  Rep. Frank Hornstein, both of South
Minneapolis, pledged to seek tighter accountability by MAC on governance issues and pollution regulations.

Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, Minneapolis, appealed for more grass-roots pressure on key committee members to heighten chances for passage of environmental and governance bills. 

Sen. Jim Carlson, Eagan, offered support on job and business initiatives. Rep. Mike Olberman, Eagan, concurred in sentiment, favoring expansion of the core network of legislators representing districts adjoining the airport.

Rene Foss and Janette Rook, members of the Association of
Flight Attendants-CWA at Northwest Airlines, warned the legislators that “this merger could be used to break our contract, eliminate our union and destroy our collective bargaining rights.”

Foss and Rook urged lawmakers to “use your influence to
persuade Delta management to remain neutral” in a forthcoming election to determine whether Delta’s non-union cabin attendants will endorse a joint union.
The SMAAC forum was held at Windom Community Center to engage more citizens in deliberations over long-range economic, environmental and safety implications of the Delta/NWA merger.