Union, Northwest still making progress, negotiator says

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Negotiators for airline mechanics said Saturday "progress continues to be made" in discussions with Northwest Airlines ahead of the beginning of a cooling-off period just after midnight Sunday.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association reported in Friday Web page updates that agreement had been reached on articles covering the scope of agreement, overtime, holidays, vacancies and vacations.

The negotiators agreed to continue meeting through the weekend to talk on the remaining issues, which include wages, pension and back pay, said reports posted by union negotiator Steve MacFarlane, president of AMFA Local 33 in Bloomington, Minnesota.

"Specific information is not being released from the table at this time due to the rapidly changing nature of this phase," MacFarlane said.

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The union, representing more than 10,000 Northwest mechanics and other service workers, had set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. Monday. President Bush canceled those plans by signing an order Friday setting up a Presidential Emergency Board and starting the 60-day cooling-off period Monday.

Bush also said he will "take the necessary steps" to prevent other airline strikes this year.

The union was not pleased that Bush stepped in.

"No president has ever instituted a 60-day cooling-off period before a strike has been called," said AMFA spokesman Bob Rose. He said he was "kind of shocked he would do it before Monday."

The union said the order takes away any incentive the airline had to reach an agreement soon.

AMFA has been negotiating with Northwest for more than a year. Bargainers reached an impasse February 12, when the National Mediation Board ordered a 30-day waiting period before any strike could begin. Talks resumed this week.

At last report, the union and the airline were still $2.5 billion apart on wage issues, pensions and back pay.

MacFarlane said negotiations continued until about 10:30 p.m. Friday and resumed Saturday morning. In a report posted Friday, he said that because of the president's order, the National Mediation Board has recommended all negotiations this weekend be off the record unless an agreement is reached.

That will "preserve each side's position" in case the Presidential Emergency Board takes over the negotiations, MacFarlane said.

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AMFA Local 33
Northwest Airlines
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

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