Northwest, Fired Mechanics Reach Deal

Northwest Airlines Corp. reached a tentative agreement with its mechanics' union to end a 14-month dispute triggered when the workers went on strike and then were fired.

The accord with the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association provides striking employees the option of accepting furlough status with bankrupt Northwest in exchange for some layoff pay, the airline and the union said yesterday.

With the mechanics already replaced by new workers, the settlement may be more symbolic than substantive as Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest, the fifth-largest U.S. airline, works toward exiting bankruptcy protection next year.

"It's beneficial for Northwest to put an end to this, but I think this is a much more significant issue for the union than for the airline," said John Budd, a professor of industrial relations at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Northwest hasn't had operational problems related to its mechanic workforce this year.

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