Airline seeks injunction against mechanics union

SEATTLE -- Alaska Airlines filed suit in federal court on Thursday, seeking an injunction against a mechanics union and damages related to hundreds of forced flight cancellations since mid-April.

The airline said it has been forced to cancel more than 300 flights for maintenance-related reasons. It alleges the job slowdown was orchestrated by members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.

The union, which represents 1,100 mechanics, referred all questions to Scott Petersen, a New York lawyer. He could not be reached for comment late Thursday.

The union has previously denied any knowledge of a work slowdown.

"These problems were a result of normal operational wear and tear, and all were identified and addressed by maintenance personnel in a timely, conscientious manner," a recent union statement said.

The carrier filed suit in U.S. District Court, seeking a permanent injunction against the union that would preclude illegal job actions. The airline also seeks unspecified damages.

"We're asking the courts to step in and order the union to compel its members to stop the slowdown," airline spokesman Jack Evans said.

More than 70 flights -- 27 on Thursday and 47 on Wednesday -- have been canceled in the past two days, Evans said. The usual number of daily cancellations hovers around five, he said, adding that the union's denials are not credible.

"We think it's hard not to know about (the slowdown)," he said. "We're an airline with the youngest fleet in the nation. It's hard to have problems of such nature that it would take so long to repair."

Earlier this week, it was reported Alaska had fired five employees it blamed for orchestrating the slowdown.

Alaska Airlines schedules about 500 departures daily.

More than 10,000 travelers were affected when about 350 workers called in sick in mid-April.

All the airline's unions are negotiating contracts except pilots, whose most recent package was signed in 1997. Workers have complained that the talks are progressing slowly.

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