Northwest Flight Attendants Vote Decisively to Strike

CHICAGO —  Northwest Airlines Corp. flight attendants have voted overwhelmingly to strike, their union said Saturday, setting the stage for the second work stoppage in a year at the nation’s fourth-largest airline.

Of the 8,735 ballots cast, only 49 opposed a strike, according to a voice message to members of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 2000, which represents Northwest flight attendants.

The final tally represented 93% of union members eligible to vote.

The flight attendants have been in contract talks with the St. Paul, Minn.-based Northwest for almost three years, with pay, pensions and job security among the key issues.

The flight attendants cannot strike until 30 days after the National Mediation Board, which oversees airline labor contracts, declares an impasse.

Billie Davenport, president of Teamsters Local 2000, said the union could ask as early as next week that an impasse be declared.

A strike by Northwest’s pilots late last summer shut down the airline for almost three weeks, prompting the carrier to post a $285.5-million net loss for the year.