Legislation to enable striking Northwest Airlines mechanics to receive unemployment benefits has advanced to the floor of the Minnesota Senate.
The Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee approved the measure Wednesday. Committee Chair Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, chief sponsor of the bill, said a court case determined that the mechanics would not be eligible for unemployment benefits under current law. She said the law needs to be changed in order for the mechanics to obtain the benefits so that they could get on with their lives and support their families.
Ted Ludwig, president of Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), Local 33, spoke in support of the bill, S.F. 2702. He said when the members went on strike they filed for unemployment insurance. Ludwig said the custodians and cleaners were granted unemployment benefits, but the mechanics were not, even though the pay cut for both groups was the same.
The judge said the custodians made so little, the pay cut amounted to a lockout, but the mechanics made enough to weather the pay cut. Ludwig said the airline has informed the union that the jobs are no longer there. He said the union cannot end the strike because the union is national and the vote by the national union was to reject the contract. He said the bill is the right thing to do for the AMFA members.
Kevin Horgan, a member of AMFA, said after Sept. 11, 2001, Northwest began systematically dismantling its maintenance operations and union members were faced with layoffs and salary cuts. He described the efforts of his family to survive under the current situation. A number of other AMFA members also spoke.
Anderson said the bill does not change the law going forward, but is drafted for the particular situation the Northwest employees are in. She said she has heard that up to 800 workers would apply for the benefits.
Keith Goodwin, director of customer service centers, Dept. of Employment and Economic Development, said the governor does not object to making the mechanics eligible for dislocated worker benefits, but does not support unemployment benefits for the union members. He said in the past, the law has held that striking employees have not been laid off and are not eligible for unemployment compensation. In addition, Goodwin said the ongoing lawsuits are also of concern for the department.
Sen. James Metzen, DFL-South St. Paul, said the Legislature has a duty to do the right thing and not to worry about what may or may not happen in court. Goodwin said because the issue of unemployment compensation is in active litigation there may be consequences later on.
Anderson responded that the situation described fits that of a lockout and it is necessary to do something for the families affected by the mechanics' situation. "It is a very narrow bill and we are not trying to affect the outcome of any pending litigation," Anderson said.
Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester, offered an amendment specifying that an applicant for unemployment benefits in a case involving a labor dispute whose case was ordered to hearing without an initial determination is eligible for the state dislocated worker program. Anderson said the effect of the amendment eliminates the ability of workers, who have already begun dislocated worker training at their own expense, to be reimbursed. The amendment failed on a voice vote.
Sen. Chris Gerlach, R-Apple Valley, urged members to support the bill. "We need to have bipartisan cooperation in order for this bill to become law," he said. He said the jobs are no longer there, so workers should be eligible for benefits.
Tom Hesse, representing the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, said the bill sets a dangerous precedent. He said despite the assurances the bill is drafted very narrowly, it would be impossible to deny other striking employees if the bill becomes law.
Reprinted from Senate Briefly, a publication of the Minnesota Senate.
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Legislation to enable striking Northwest Airlines mechanics to receive unemployment benefits has advanced to the floor of the Minnesota Senate.
The Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee approved the measure Wednesday. Committee Chair Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, chief sponsor of the bill, said a court case determined that the mechanics would not be eligible for unemployment benefits under current law. She said the law needs to be changed in order for the mechanics to obtain the benefits so that they could get on with their lives and support their families.
Ted Ludwig, president of Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), Local 33, spoke in support of the bill, S.F. 2702. He said when the members went on strike they filed for unemployment insurance. Ludwig said the custodians and cleaners were granted unemployment benefits, but the mechanics were not, even though the pay cut for both groups was the same.
The judge said the custodians made so little, the pay cut amounted to a lockout, but the mechanics made enough to weather the pay cut. Ludwig said the airline has informed the union that the jobs are no longer there. He said the union cannot end the strike because the union is national and the vote by the national union was to reject the contract. He said the bill is the right thing to do for the AMFA members.
Kevin Horgan, a member of AMFA, said after Sept. 11, 2001, Northwest began systematically dismantling its maintenance operations and union members were faced with layoffs and salary cuts. He described the efforts of his family to survive under the current situation. A number of other AMFA members also spoke.
Anderson said the bill does not change the law going forward, but is drafted for the particular situation the Northwest employees are in. She said she has heard that up to 800 workers would apply for the benefits.
Keith Goodwin, director of customer service centers, Dept. of Employment and Economic Development, said the governor does not object to making the mechanics eligible for dislocated worker benefits, but does not support unemployment benefits for the union members. He said in the past, the law has held that striking employees have not been laid off and are not eligible for unemployment compensation. In addition, Goodwin said the ongoing lawsuits are also of concern for the department.
Sen. James Metzen, DFL-South St. Paul, said the Legislature has a duty to do the right thing and not to worry about what may or may not happen in court. Goodwin said because the issue of unemployment compensation is in active litigation there may be consequences later on.
Anderson responded that the situation described fits that of a lockout and it is necessary to do something for the families affected by the mechanics’ situation. “It is a very narrow bill and we are not trying to affect the outcome of any pending litigation,” Anderson said.
Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester, offered an amendment specifying that an applicant for unemployment benefits in a case involving a labor dispute whose case was ordered to hearing without an initial determination is eligible for the state dislocated worker program. Anderson said the effect of the amendment eliminates the ability of workers, who have already begun dislocated worker training at their own expense, to be reimbursed. The amendment failed on a voice vote.
Sen. Chris Gerlach, R-Apple Valley, urged members to support the bill. “We need to have bipartisan cooperation in order for this bill to become law,” he said. He said the jobs are no longer there, so workers should be eligible for benefits.
Tom Hesse, representing the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, said the bill sets a dangerous precedent. He said despite the assurances the bill is drafted very narrowly, it would be impossible to deny other striking employees if the bill becomes law.
Reprinted from Senate Briefly, a publication of the Minnesota Senate.