Mesaba talks continue for 3rd day

October 28, 2006

The exhausting work of contract negotiations continued for a third day Friday for Mesaba Airlines and its large unions, and the talks could spill over into this weekend.

"We are meeting with all three unions," Mesaba spokeswoman Elizabeth Costello said late Friday.

In an attempt to reach negotiated deals, the company has refrained from using its court-granted power to impose labor cost cuts of 17.5 percent on its pilots, flight attendants and mechanics.

Management and union leaders Friday didn't reveal details about the proposals that have been exchanged. However, there was an important development with the pilots union.

"The union's executive council has convened in the Twin Cities and will remain in place to confer with the negotiators as talks continue," said Kris Pierson, the union's secretary-treasurer. "We hope that this is all going to result in a consensual agreement."

The executive council is the body that would declare a tentative agreement.

LIZ FEDOR