Mesaba, mechanics reach deal

Mesaba Airlines and its mechanics union announced they have reached a deal on a concessionary contract. Terms of the tentative agreement weren't disclosed and are subject to ratification by Mesaba members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).

Liz Fedor, Star Tribune
November 1, 2006

Mesaba Airlines and its mechanics union announced at 1 p.m. today that they have reached a deal on a concessionary contract.

Terms of the tentative agreement were not disclosed and they are subject to ratification by Mesaba members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).

"This offers the best chance for Mesaba's survival, however, there is really little to celebrate under these dire circumstances not of our making," said Nick Granath, an AMFA attorney.

"To be clear, this is not an agreement we prefer and we are not telling people to vote either for or against it," Granath said. "The members will have the final say."

Mesaba now has tentative agreements with all three of its large unions -- mechanics, pilots and flight attendants.

"This has been a complicated and difficult process but working together we have been able to reach a solution that addresses the company's needs and the mechanics' interests," Mesaba President John Spanjers said in a prepared statement.

Liz Fedor • 612-673-7709 • lfedor@startribune.com