February 3, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

RE: NORTHWEST AIRLINES

[The National Mediation Board sent the following communication to the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM&AW), and Northwest Airlines concerning allegations of election interference filed by the IAM&AW following the tally of ballots cast in the recent NMB-conducted representation election.]

February 3, 1999

Re: NMB Case No. R-6621

In a letter dated January 14, 1999, the National Mediation Board (NMB) informed you that the Board would notify you within twenty-one days of its determination concerning the investigation of the allegations of election interference filed by the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO (IAM). The Board has reviewed the voluminous record and has determined that further investigation is warranted pursuant to Section 14.0 of the NMB's Representation Manual. The record consists of written position statements, handwritten statements, typed statements, and other documents. Upon review of this material, the Board has concluded that it is necessary to interview certain individuals in order to fully and fairly investigate the allegations made by all parties. For this reason, it is necessary for the Board to conduct a field investigation.

The investigation will proceed as soon as the Mediator can schedule the individual witnesses. Counsel for the IAM, AMFA, and the Carrier will be contacted within three business days concerning the scheduling of witnesses. Your cooperation in making the witnesses available promptly will assist the Board's efforts.

The Board is aware of the parties' desire to conclude this investigation as promptly as possible and projects that the field investigation will take at least thirty to forty-five days. The length of time will depend, of course, upon the availability of the witnesses and the cooperation of counsel for the IAM, AMFA, and Northwest. Following completion of the field investigation, the entire record will be analyzed and considered by the Board. Based on the nature of the issues and the extent of the record in this matter, we estimate that this stage of the process will take approximately sixty days after the completion of the field investigation.

The parties are reminded that one of the allegations is that of intimidation and retaliation against witnesses. You are also reminded of the NMB's ex parte rule prohibiting conversations relating to this case with the members of the Board during the investigation. All inquiries, whether written or oral, regarding the status of the investigation will only be discussed with counsel for the IAM, AMFA, and Northwest. Contacts other than through counsel may divert agency resources and delay the NMB's processing of this matter.

In order to keep the members of the craft or class fully informed, the Board requests that the Carrier post copies of this letter on all appropriate bulletin boards at all Northwest Airlines' stations. A copy also will be posted on the NMB Internet Home Page.