A federal judge blocked Northwest Airlines flight attendants from going on strike Friday, handing a victory to the airline just hours before a planned walkout that could have devastated the cash-strapped company.
U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero said he will issue an injunction to allow time for him to examine the case. He said Northwest made a "persuasive case" that a delay in any strike was necessary so that the legal issues could be resolved.
He said that while the injury to flight attendants would be to delay their ability to strike, "far greater injuries exist to Northwest and the public by permitting the strike to commence at this point."
Northwest, already operating under bankruptcy protection, has said a strike could kill it.
Northwest has about 7,300 active flight attendants. The workers are angry that the company imposed pay cuts and work rules that the rank-and-file had rejected.
The case is complicated, involving obscure labor law provisions. A key question, however, is: Can airline employees walk off the job after management unilaterally cut their pay and changed their work rules?
The flight attendants had set 9 p.m. CST Friday as the deadline to begin walkouts. In preparation, the Association of Flight Attendants said it has held classes to train its members on its "CHAOS" strike strategy, for "create havoc around our system."
The union has said firing those who strike would be illegal. Northwest has said it has backup plans in case of a walkout, but officials have not said if they have lined up replacement workers.
WCCO-TV
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