Northwest Ground Workers Approve Strike

The union representing about 27,000 Northwest Airlines Corp. ground workers said its members rejected contract proposals and overwhelmingly authorized a strike if necessary. The rejection means the nation’s fourth-largest airline, which is trying to avoid a possible strike at the end of the month by its pilots, will probably have to resume negotiations with the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Talks with the Air Line Pilots Assn. were declared at an impasse last week, setting up the possibility of a strike a week before Labor Day weekend when a 30-day cooling off period expires Aug. 29. Talks between Minneapolis-based Northwest and the IAM are still under the auspices of the National Mediation Board, which would have to declare an impasse, triggering a cooling off period, before the workers could strike. Northwest’s unions are trying to recoup concessions they made to help the airline out of financial trouble earlier this decade. Northwest shares closed at $31.91 on Nasdaq, up 6 cents.