Northwest, Mechanics to Talk

Northwest Airlines Corp. will resume talks with striking mechanics today and demand steeper cuts than those that prompted the workers to walk out.

The announcement by both sides Wednesday came one day after Northwest told the union it would begin hiring permanent replacements by Tuesday unless a deal was reached.

Northwest’s 4,427 mechanics, cleaners and custodians walked out Aug. 20 rather than accept 25% pay cuts and layoffs of about 2,000 workers.

“Our last best offer which was presented to you on Aug. 18 was based on economic circumstances that no longer exist today,” said a letter from Julie Hagen Showers, Northwest’s vice president for labor relations, which was sent to the union Tuesday night and released by the airline Wednesday.

“While the company was prepared to stand behind that offer in order to obtain a consensual agreement, unfortunately we are no longer able to do so,” she wrote.

The letter said mechanics have a legal right to return to any position for which they are qualified, even those occupied by temporary replacement workers.

Union officials declined to respond to the letter. The union said 16 mechanics would be allowed to observe the talks.

“I’m going to see what they’re going to say tomorrow at the table,” said O.V. Delle-Femine, national director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Assn.

Shares in Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest fell 22 cents to $3.37.