06-R 142

2006 -- S 2470

Enacted 03/21/06

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO NORTHWEST AIRLINES PROPOSED OUTSOURCING OF 3,000 FLIGHT ATTENDANT JOBS

Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, DaPonte, Polisena, Damiani, and F Caprio

Date Introduced: February 09, 2006

     WHEREAS, In 2001, Northwest Airlines received nearly $250 million in emergency

government assistance after their revenues plummeted due to the government ordered four-day

airline shutdown and subsequent fall-off in airline travel that occurred after the September 11,

2001 terrorists attacks; and

     WHEREAS, The $250 million bailout was paid for by American taxpayers. Ten years

earlier, Minnesota lawmakers had approved an $838 million financial aid package for Northwest,

also paid for in part by American taxpayers; and

     WHEREAS, Northwest Airlines Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in

September of 2005. They are looking for $195 million in concessions from their flight

attendants, and a total of $1.4 billion in wage and benefit cuts from their employees; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, Northwest has proposed the outsourcing of 3,000 flight

attendant jobs to foreign nationals. The company's main impetus is economics, yet for the

American public there are a variety of other serious considerations, including the impact

outsourcing to foreign nationals will have on the airline's security and safety, as well as the

potential skills gap between American personnel and foreign nationals; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby urges the United States Congress to investigate and take steps to halt Northwest Airlines

proposed outsourcing of 3,000 flight attendant jobs in lieu of their past bailouts by the American

public, some of whom are currently in jeopardy of losing their jobs should the airlines be allowed

to outsource to foreign nationals; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States and the

Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, with all due haste.

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LC02057

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