Mesaba back to bargaining table

MINNEAPOLIS, May 19 (UPI) -- A Minneapolis bankruptcy judge has refused Mesaba Airlines' request to abrogate contracts with flight attendants, mechanics and pilots.

Mesaba, a Northwest Airlines regional carrier that filed for bankruptcy last October, had asked its labor unions for a 19.4-percent wage and benefit cut for a period of six years before asking the judge for relief from its existing contract with its flight attendants.

The pilots' union said that "during the 15 days of lengthy testimony in this case, Mesaba failed to substantiate the need for the drastic cuts it was seeking from employees."

The effect of Thursday decision is to force Mesaba back to the bargaining table with its unions.