Teamsters Protest Health Care Increases at Northwest Airlines

Teamsters Protest Health Care Increases at Northwest Airlines

Flight Attendants Deliver Petitions to Northwest Headquarters

November 20, 2002

(Minneapolis, MN) – Teamsters at Northwest Airlines (NWA) took their fight for health care to the front door of the company yesterday. Members of Local 2000 carried picket signs and stacks of petitions signed by NWA flight attendants protesting a unilateral decision that would significantly increase their health care costs.

Local 2000 represents over 11,000 flight attendants at Northwest Airlines. According to Local 2000 Trustee Mollie Reiley, the rally was organized to communicate to NWA management that all changes that affect their members must be negotiated. “NWA would like us to be their business plan,” Reiley said. “What has management done to bear the brunt of the economic downturn?”

With the increased health care costs imposed by NWA, the average family would have to pay $175 - $190 more per month. Singles would have to pay $58 - $61 more per month for coverage.

“We have 1.4 million members and a $100 million line of credit—Northwest will have to deal with us at the next contract negotiations,” General Secretary-Treasurer C. Thomas Keegel said. “Changes to our contract cannot be imposed unilaterally. We are here to demand that they negotiate the issue of heath care.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States and Canada.