Northwest mechanics go on strike...

Struggling airline vows to keep flying despite labor turbulence

Updated: 2:42 a.m. ET Aug. 20, 2005
MINNEAPOLIS - Mechanics struck Northwest Airlines early Saturday after refusing big pay cuts and layoffs that would have cut their numbers almost in half. The nation’s fourth largest airline pledged to keep flying with replacements.

After months of talks broke off here just before midnight Friday, union spokesman Jim Young said the mechanics would rather see the airline go into bankruptcy than agree to Northwest’s terms. The Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association 4,427 of Northwest’s 40,000 workers. The strike began at 12:01 a.m. EDT.

Flight attendants and pilots at Northwest Airlines said they would not join the walkout by mechanics.

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