Judge won’t block possible NWA flight attendant strike
The ante has been raised in the battle between Northwest Airlines (NWA) and the carrier’s angry flight attendants, and it could impact your travel plans.
A U.S. judge says he doesn’t have the authority to prevent cabin crew from walking off the job at the bankrupt airline, a move that could come as early as August 25.
Flight attendants say they could sew CHAOS (Create Chaos Across Our System) throughout Northwest’s worldwide route network in the wake of the company’s imposition of significant wage and benefit cuts. They earlier rejected a proposed contract.
Should a strike occur, indications are that it would be sporadic in nature, hitting some flights and leaving others untouched. In the past Northwest has said a walkout by cabin crew would threaten its viability. The airline now says it has contingency plans should a strike occur.
It is far to early to say what will happen here. Optimistic industry observers hope that the judge’s refusal to block CHAOS could bring both airline and flight attendants to the bargaining table again, a table over which they could hammer out a mutually agreeable deal.
© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler
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