Northwest Airlines, mechanics reach pay deal

WASHINGTON -- Northwest Airlines Corp. and its mechanics union reached a tentative agreement early Monday, averting a possible strike that could have begun May 11.

The agreement would settle a 4-year-old dispute over pay and benefits at the No. 4 U.S. airline, a union official said.

Northwest and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), which represents more than 9,600 Northwest mechanics, had huddled in discussions throughout the weekend for the first time since their negotiations collapsed in March and President Bush intervened to stop a threatened strike.

AMFA spokesman Steve Lanier said union and airline negotiators reached the agreement around 1 a.m. EDT after marathon discussions that lasted throughout the weekend.

MESSAGE BOARD Airline strikes?

He gave no details of the agreement, saying it would be circulated to union members first for their review before they vote on whether to ratify its terms.

The deal comes just days before a Presidential Emergency Board appointed by Bush was due to issue recommendations to settle the long-running dispute.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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