May 18, 2006

Mesaba Airlines and pilots face deadline
Negotiators for Mesaba Airlines and its pilots union are working to reach a deal on a cost-cutting contract by 3 p.m. Thursday.

That's when both sides will meet with Mesaba's bankruptcy court judge in Minneapolis. If there is no deal, Federal Bankruptcy Court Judge Gregory Kishel could allow the Eagan-based carrier to impose new terms on its labor groups, including wage cuts up to 20 percent.

Mesaba has been negotiating principally with its pilots union, in hopes that a deal with them will clear the way for the others. Pilots says Mesaba's proposal would start pilot pay at about $17,000.

Pilots union spokesman Chris Collins said pilots would walk away from the airline before agreeing to such deep cuts.

"We hope to continue negotiating to come up with a consensual deal, because we believe that's the only way Mesaba Airlines is going to survive throughout this process," he said.

Mesaba's bankruptcy followed that of its sole customer, Northwest Airlines. A strike by pilots could shut down Mesaba and lead to liquidation.