Faces In The News
Northwest Mechanics Walk, Spokesman Sees Strike
Greg Levine, 08.03.05, 7:06 PM ET

Dougals Steenland


NEW YORK - Northwest Airlines (nasdaq: NWAC - news - people ) said passenger traffic rose 5.4% in July, as capacity increased 3.4%. The troubled legacy reported traffic growing to 7.47 billion revenue passenger miles--i.e., the equivalent measure of one passenger flown one mile--while capacity expanded to 8.54 billion available seat miles in the month.

But mechanics walked away Wednesday from talks with the Eagan, Minn.-based airline, declaring that Northwest is unwilling to negotiate.

According to reports, the mechanics can strike after 11:01 A.M. CDT on Aug. 19. Northwest has stuck with its demand for pay cuts of some 25%, as well as the right to hire contractors to do more of the work that its own mechanics and ground personnel do. In addition, the carrier seeks to ax some 2,000 of the union's 4,500 Northwest workers. Union spokesman Steve MacFarlane opined that a strike seems likely. The carrier, led by CEO Douglas M. Steenland, vows to keep flying.

what we hear around here is that there is definately going to be a strike, but NWA has hired over 1000 other mechanics flight attendents etc. to keep on going. They've had union problems for years, & I really think they're using this as an excuse to clean house.

This better not screw up my trip to Tanzania!

Glad I bought put options on NWAC a few weeks ago!!! Stock continues to tank...