Mechanics strike Northwest Airlines

Detroit Free Press
August 20, 2005, 1:33 AM


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Mechanics went on strike against 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 represents about 11 percent of Northwest's 40,000 workers. The strike began at 12:01 a.m. EDT.

Flight attendants, ground workers and pilots at Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest said they would not join the walkout by mechanics.

Northwest is Michigan's largest passenger air carrier and has a hub at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

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