If management imposes new terms on the pilots, is a strike certain to follow?
No. Management says a strike would be illegal under the Railway Labor Act, which requires transportation unions to go through a lengthy process that concludes with a 30-day, cooling-off period before a strike. Management says if the pilots try to strike, they’ll seek a federal court injunction to block it. Pilots argue that, if management nullifies their contract, they’re no longer bound by the federal act. Q: Is there a role for President Bush? A: It’s not clear. If a federal judge buys the pilots’ argument and rules that the Railway Labor Act doesn’t apply, Bush would not have the legal power to intervene by creating a Presidential Emergency Board. Still, he’s president, giving him some ability to cajole and push the parties toward a settlement if he chooses to do so. Q: What cities would be hit hardest by a shutdown? A: Northwest and its affiliates carry nearly 90% of passengers in Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Memphis. It’s also a major employer in those markets. Q: Doesn’t man
