Alaska Attorneys and Outsourcing, by Attorneys.org Editor

In June 2005, arguments by Alaska attorneys to deny unionized baggage handlers to return to their jobs had been accepted by a federal judge. Alaska therefore is not required to reinstate nearly 500 workers that had lost their jobs due to outsourcing. It was claimed that Alaska will save almost $14 million dollars if the jobs were to be outsourced to Menzies Aviation.

Due to this, many people hated the attorneys that handled the case for the state. No doubt fueled by the common concept of lawyers being savage, heartless beasts, many people think that these Alaskan lawyers have sold their souls to the devil.

Mishaps abound
Just a few months after the apparent victory by the Alaskan state, a number of mishaps occurred mostly caused by the outsourced workers. In one instance, an accident by an outsourced bag handler delayed bag handling that upset passengers waiting for their luggage and caused damage on jets that were still on the ground.

In another instance, a horrified traveler watched from her seat inside the terminal while a baggage handler tossed a crate containing her dog into the jet. Needless to say, the traveler complained. What was surprising was that even with the outsourced company’s promise to send more supervisors to oversee ramp operations, there weren’t any visible when the incident happened.

Alaska Attorneys still arguing the case
Have Alaska attorneys finally given in to their nagging conscience or do they still continue to turn a blind eye? Perhaps their humanity can be questioned. Three years after this job row started, the arbitrator in charge of the case ruled that Alaska broke union contracts when it started outsourcing.

Most people will simply give up after a staggering defeat, but not so for these people. Even now they are preparing to dispute the arbitration panel’s findings. The argument this time is if it actually cost more to outsource than to hire local workers. If so they would not continue to outsource.

Moving forward
If we want a change of stance, write to your representative and tell him that outsourcing jobs to other states carry with it costs that are not quantifiable. So even if the state can save $14 million dollars, nothing can pay for patriotism and care for their fellow Alaskan.

Alaska attorneys may be heartless and savage, but they are intelligent and loyal messengers of the state they work for. Don’t hate the messenger. Find out who controls the puppet strings.