The US National Mediation Board (NMB) told Northwest Airlines and the union representing its flight attendants to resume contract negotiations on Wednesday.
The NMB, an independent federal agency that mediates contract talks for railroads and airlines, declined on Tuesday to honor a request by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) that it end formal mediation.
The AFA had hoped to be released from mediation so that it could legally make good on its threat to strike against Northwest. The union issued a strike threat in July after the carrier voided the workers' contract and imposed terms that save the company USD$195 million a year. The two parties have not had talks since.
AFA President Patricia Friend said the board's initial reluctance to release the union from talks was not surprising.
"If they are going to make a recommendation, they have to be very thorough," she said.
One analyst said it is not clear that further negotiations will be any more productive than those conducted previously.
"I'm just not confident that there's any change in the process," said Doug Abbey, an airline management consultant at the Velocity Group. He said it is likely that the NMB eventually will release the two parties.
The AFA says Northwest's savings target for the flight attendants is too high, but a union spokesman on Tuesday said it is possible to reach a deal that meets that goal and satisfies the workers.
A Northwest spokesman reiterated earlier statements that the airline is willing to negotiate a contract so long as it meets the USD$195 million savings target.
"Northwest looks forward to renewing its negotiations with the AFA in hopes of reaching consensual agreements," said Bill Mellon.
The airline exercised court permission in July when it voided the workers' contract. The flight attendants had defeated two tentative deals negotiated by their union leaders.
The AFA said the unilateral imposition of terms triggered its right to strike. The legality of such a strike is in dispute, however, because technically the two parties must be released from formal mediation before the workers can take job action. The union has argued in court that Northwest effectively ended negotiations when it terminated their contract.
So far, the union has been unable to win a court ruling confirming its right to take job action. The AFA says it plans to appeal a recent ruling blocking a strike.
The AFA fought the battle to strike on a different front last week when it said talks with the airline were at an impasse and called on the NMB to release it from mediation.
If the NMB were to cease mediation, the dispute could be sent to arbitration. If either side rejects arbitration, the two parties must submit to a 30 day "cooling off" period. The AFA says it would have the legal right to strike if no deal is reached by the end of that period.
