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Ken Pentel      Response 7

Question 7: Is Northwest too dominant at Minneapolis/St. Paul International, and what is the role, if any, for the governor in the current situation with the airline?

The Minnesota Airport Commission needs to become an elected body.

Representation on that body would be based in proportion to those
people that are most affected by the airport in a detrimental
way. I do not support building a new airport, although I do
support the decentralization of Northwest's monopoly. Recently I
released the following press statement during the Northwest
pilots strike:


"Green Party candidates Ken Pentel and Susan Jasper (Governor and
Lt. Governor) on the ballot this fall officially support the
following:

* The rights of a union to organize workers and negotiate fair
contracts.

* Neutral mediation that both parties agree on.

* No government intervention!

* The Northwest pilots right to be rewarded for taking pay cuts
to help Northwest stay in business in the Twin Cities over 4
years ago.

* The Northwest pilots right to job security.

* Ending and/or weakening monopolies which undermine consumer
rights, workers rights or the local economy and standard of
living.

* An end to corporate welfare and tax dollars subsidizing
monopolies (such as the Northwest bail-out over 4 years ago where
large amounts of out tax dollars went directly to Northwest while
workers took pay cuts).

and,

* The Northwest pilots (and other employees) to be fairly
rewarded (financially) for the fact that Northwest has been such
a financial success (profit-wise) because of their hard work!"