CHICAGO (Reuters) - Northwest Airlines Corp. (NWAC.O) has hired about 400 mechanics to replace those who may walk off the job if negotiations on a labor deal break down, the mechanics union said on Thursday.þþThe president of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Ted Ludwig, said the names of the new workers appeared in the airline's computer system, which showed they had been issued employee numbers and start dates.þþAMFA has said the No. 4 U.S. airline, which is seeking $1.1 billion in annual labor savings, is bracing for a possible mechanics strike even though the union has not formally threatened one.þþNorthwest, based in Eagan, Minnesota, denied that it has hired replacement workers.þþ``Contrary to some reports, we have not added replacement workers to our payroll,'' Northwest said in a statement.þþThe carrier has said that while it prefers to settle any contract disputes through negotiations, it has ``developed contingency plans to be prepared for any eventuality.''þþHiring replacement mechanics in advance of a strike would be a violation of the union's contract, which requires the company to offer positions to furloughed workers before hiring new employees, Ludwig saidþþ``We are going to file a grievance on this,'' he said. ``We want this resolved. We want these people to pay union dues.''þþAMFA and Northwest have been negotiating a labor deal that would save the airline $176 million annually. The AMFA contract became amendable on May 11, but talks began last year.þþThe airline last week proposed firing 2,031, or nearly half, of its mechanics to achieve the savings, AMFA said.þþThe union said last week that Northwest has declared an impasse in negotiations and has asked the National Mediation Board to release the parties from mediation, calling for a 30-day cooling off period.þþAMFA has until June 8 to respond to the request. The Railway Labor Act prohibits airline employees from striking while in mediated contract negotiations. þþ
Source: NY Times
