The judge presiding over bankruptcy proceedings for Northwest Airlines delayed his expected ruling on a company request to void contracts for its pilots and flight attendants. The judge instead gave both sides until the close of business on Feb. 24 to try to negotiate a deal over cost cuts the ailing carrier is seeking.
Northwest's union pilots in the Air Line Pilots Association already planned to count up union votes Feb. 28 for a possible strike, in case the judge ruled against their contract and talks with the company failed.
Northwest, which ranked fourth among the largest U.S. air freight carriers in 2004, had asked the court to set the labor contracts aside, so it could carry out its own cost-cutting plans if talks fail to deliver the savings management says it needs.
Besides the pilots' strike vote, flight attendants are conducting a similar vote in their union. Any strike by them could ground flights that haul both passengers and the freight carried in aircraft bellies, while a strike by pilots would also shut down Northwest's fleet of 14 jumbo freighters.
The Northwest situation is similar to that of Delta Air Lines, which ranked as the seventh-largest U.S. cargo carrier in 2004.
Both airlines filed for bankruptcy reorganization in September, and both are seeking court authority to carry out cuts if labor talks don't get the results they want.
Pilots for Delta as well as Northwest are conducting information picketing this month at some U.S. airports.
Meanwhile, the union that represents American Airlines pilots issued a statement Feb. 16 in support of the flyers at Northwest and Delta.
"Their fight is our fight, and we will do what we can to support their right to a fair and equitable contract," said the Allied Pilots Association, without giving any details on how it might react to potential strikes at the other carriers.
American's 2004 cargo ton miles followed closely behind the totals for Northwest among U.S. carriers.
APA said management at Northwest and Delta is using the bankruptcy process "to achieve labor contract changes far in excess of what is necessary for successful restructuring."
John D. Boyd
