Buoyed by news of a large donation to their strike fund and plans for another solidarity rally, striking Northwest Airlines workers blasted the carrier's move to hire permanent replacements for them.

"This is not what Minnesotans expected when they gave Northwest Airlines millions of dollars in the mid '90s," said Ted Ludwig, president of Local 33 of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association. "The executives have been rewarded all along the way and their greed is what has brought us to this point.

"Today will be the day that Northwest Airlines crosses over the boundary of doing what is best for the company and steps into the role of corporate union busting."

Members went on strike Aug. 19 when the airline demanded a contract that called for the elimination of more than half of the 4,400 mechanic, cleaner and custodian jobs and pay cuts of 25 percent for those who remained.

Talks resumed Friday, but fell apart over the weekend. Northwest, which had been using managers and temporary replacements to perform the strikers' work, said it would begin hiring permanent replacements Tuesday. As of Tuesday night, the carrier had not said how many permanent replacements it had actually hired.

Ludwig said AMFA members continue to believe the strike is hurting the airline's operations. Only a handful of AMFA members have crossed the picketline and Northwest cannot function over the long term without the strikers, he said.

"There isn't a big enough pool for them to hire from to replace us," he said.

With the walkout in its fourth week, the strikers were cheered to hear of an $880,000 donation from the United Auto Workers. AMFA has no strike fund and the workers have depended on contributions and income from other jobs.

"Northwest Airlines' behavior toward AMFA is blatant union-busting and an insult to every American worker," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said in announcing the donation from the UAW's headquarters at Solidarity House in Detroit. AMFA said the donation would be distributed to Northwest strikers across the country by the Detroit local.

Meanwhile, the Twin Cities Solidarity Committee announced it would hold another support rally Saturday, Sept. 17, at 3 p.m. It will be held in the parking lot of the AmeriSuites Hotel, 7800 International Dr., where AMFA has its strike trailer.

For more information on the rally or other support activities, e-mail the Solidarity Committee, nwasolidaritymsp@hotmail

For more information
See the Workday Minnesota special section, NWA strike