Federal judge's message: Unions have no place in Bush's Amerika.

[tjwash]

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Judge says no to NWA strikes

Attendants sent back to negotiations
BY JULIE FORSTER
Pioneer Press

Chaos remains on hold — perhaps for good — at Northwest Airlines.

A federal judge on Friday blocked Northwest flight attendants from striking or taking other job actions, removing an immediate threat that the bankrupt airline had said could put it out of business.

In a 104-page ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Victor Marrero said the flight attendants union had not exhausted all its options in getting to an agreement and both parties have a duty to continue good faith negotiations in light of the irreparable damage that a strike would cause. The case goes back to bankruptcy court.

"In light of Northwest's prospects for reorganization and the impact on the traveling public, the hardships tip decidedly in favor of Northwest," the judge wrote.

The ruling means flight attendants must continue to work under terms and conditions imposed by the airline in July that dictate more work for less pay. The union said it will appeal, which likely will take at least several weeks or perhaps months, experts said.

The Association of Flight Attendants said the ruling trampled on long-standing labor law principle, allowing Northwest to make unilateral changes in their contract without providing union members the right to respond by withholding their labor. The terms were imposed by the airline after rank-and-file members twice voted down proposed contracts.

"This is just a temporary setback in our view," said David Borer, general counsel for the union, which represents 9,200 flight attendants at Northwest. The union said it will appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and ask that the case be expedited.

Northwest welcomed the ruling. The decision "allows our customers to continue to book Northwest Airlines with confidence, knowing that we will get them to their destinations reliably," said Doug Steenland, Northwest's chief executive.Full Story

[and-justice-for-all]

1. Its not BushCons Amerika..its OUR America!