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NWA sent layoff notices to some of its employees when it
experienced financial difficulties. The employees receiving the
notices could either choose to accept the layoff or exercise
their seniority. Seniority depended on the length of time an
employee had worked for NWA regardless of where the airline
facility was located. An employee with higher seniority could
exercise his or her seniority to bump an employee with less
seniority and take that employee’s position. The employee with
less seniority could then take the layoff or find another
employee with less seniority to bump. This seniority bumping
arrangement was in place across the country, so that an NWA
mechanic looking to keep his or her job at NWA had to look at
several different cities to find a less senior employee to bump.
Mr. Stephens received a bump notice in October 2002. He
chose to exercise his seniority and bump another employee rather
than accept the layoff. Mr. Stephens was able to bump to
Minnesota. He started working in Minnesota on December 17, 2002.
He planned to work in Minnesota until he was able to find a new
job in Georgia, and he sought other jobs in Georgia with other
employers. Mr. Stephens received a job offer in May 2003 from
Lockheed Martin to work in Georgia at half the salary he was paid
by NWA. Mr. Stephens was unable to accept the offer because
Lockheed Martin instituted a hiring freeze, which effectively
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Last modified: November 10, 2007