FYI - The mechanics unions at Northwest Airlines went on strike Aug. 20. From what I have heard there is little impact on operations so far. The airline has hired mechanics that were laid off from other airlines to maintain planes. This could get ugly though since Northwest is asking for a 25% wage cut and to reduce the number of union mechanics positions by about 50%. Northwest controls about 80% of the gates in the city I live (Minneapolis/St Paul) so if the airline goes bankrupt it will be devastating to the local economy. Hopefully some type of agreement will be reached before too long.

All I can say is that I'm so glad this all happened after I flew northwest home from London at the end of this summer! I loved my trip but wouldn't have liked being stranded there. Hopefully it won't get that serious with these strikes as to stop operations but we'll have to see.

Strikes are very interesting to me. Toward the end of my time in London some of the tube drivers were talking about striking due to the bombings. I can't really blame them. THAT would be an interesting dilemma.

Michelle