Judge delays ruling on Northwest ( bankrupt) strike issue

[Omaha Steve]

Full story:http://money.excite.com/ht/nw/bus/20060809/hle_bus-n09347481.html

Judge delays ruling on Northwest strike issue



Wednesday August 9, 6:14 PM EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday delayed a decision on whether flight attendants at bankrupt Northwest Airlines (NWACQ) have a right to strike as a means to pressure the company back into contract negotiations.

Judge Allan Gropper did not say when or if he might rule on the matter, but a spokesman for the Association of Flight Attendants said he likely would address the issue by Monday.

Northwest, No. 5 U.S. airline, by revenue, had asked Gropper to prevent a concerted job action, arguing that disruptions would have drastic consequences for the airline.

"(A strike) would clearly put us on the brink of collapse and in danger of liquidation," Julie Hagen Showers, Northwest's vice president of labor relations, testified.