US Attorney's Office urges judge to block airline strike

Airline Industry Information, August 24, 2006

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A United States federal judge in Manhattan is to hear Northwest Airlines' appeal to block planned labour action by the airline's flight attendants on 25 August.

According to The Associated Press, the US Attorney's Office in New York has filed court papers that urge the judge to prevent the flight attendants from striking. The flight attendants have threatened sporadic, unannounced strikes after 21:01 CDT on 25 August unless the airline agrees to improved contract terms.

Last week US Bankruptcy Judge Allan Gropper ruled that he had no jurisdiction to block the strike, but the US Attorney's Office brief claims that Gropper was wrong. The brief also said that Northwest and the flight attendants are obligated to negotiate as required by the Railway Labor Act. Under the Railway Labor Act strikes are generally banned unless a mediator has released both sides from talks, which has not happened in this case.

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