Pilots: Midwest Airlines seeks bankruptcy

MILWAUKEE, July 12 (UPI) -- Pilots for Midwest Airlines Saturday feared the U.S. airline would soon file for bankruptcy after failing to reach a collective bargaining agreement with them.

Jay Schnedorf, chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association's Midwest Airlines chapter, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he believes Midwest is not bargaining in good faith and is instead is looking for a better deal through a bankruptcy filing.

Schnedorf told the newspaper the pilot's union has offered to concede "several millions of dollars" in wages and benefits and the company's response was to "not move one penny toward us at all. That's not indicative of a company that's trying to avoid the bankruptcy process," he said.

The airline, based in Milwaukee, said in a statement that it is "continuing to talk with the union despite claims to the contrary. Furthermore, we have been open and transparent in providing information, financial and otherwise, and believe strongly that our proposals are fair and equitable."

Rising fuel prices are prompting Midwest Air to seek pay cuts from union pilots ranging from 45 percent to 65 percent, the Journal Sentinel said.