Northwest Talks at Impasse; Strike Blocked

Mechanics at Northwest Airlines Corp. said they failed to reach an agreement with the fourth-largest U.S. airline Sunday, but a presidential order blocks any strike by the union for 60 days.

President Bush acted Friday to block a potential strike by the Northwest mechanics, creating a three-member Presidential Emergency Board effective at 12:01 a.m. EST today, when union members technically are free to walk off the job. The move effectively prevents a strike for 60 days, or until May 12.