JOSHUA FREED

Associated Press

The union's letter to mediators on Wednesday said it just got Northwest's pay cut proposals on May 18, and details weren't provided until May 31. The union said it hasn't yet responded to Northwest's proposals, although union leaders have said publicly that they oppose pay cuts.

"Northwest's impetuous nature shows its lack of responsibility to its employees and to the flying public," the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said in its letter.

AMFA said mediators have refused to release it early from talks with other airlines. Granting Northwest release now would show that the National Mediation Board has "unabashed partisanship" in favor of airlines, AMFA said.

Northwest declined to comment on AMFA's position regarding mediation.

However, in a statement, the airline said, "As we said in our petition to the NMB, `to date, despite the deteriorating financial condition of the company, AMFA has refused to acknowledge the need for labor cost reductions, and instead has passed proposals with the effect of increasing costs.'"

Northwest is seeking $1.1 billion in concessions from all of its workers, including $300 million won from pilots and managers last fall. The airline wants mechanics to take a $176 million pay cut. Chief executive Doug Steenland told analysts Tuesday that concessions generally come only when there's a deadline, such as bankruptcy or the threat of a strike.

"That's a form of deadline that could well present itself to Northwest," Steenland said.

Both sides have been preparing in case of a strike. Northwest has run ads for flight attendants who would be hired if there's a strike, and contractors have run ads that appear to solicit mechanics to work at Northwest if AMFA mechanics strike. AMFA has organized strike committees and plans an informational picket at the Minneapolis airport on Thursday.