The Nation - News from Feb. 29, 1988

With a threatened strike by flight attendants “on hold,” Northwest Airlines operated normally while Teamsters leaders met with union members. William Wren, a Northwest official, said: “Everything is routine, with employees reporting for work as scheduled.” William Genoese, director of the airline division for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, broke off talks with the company late Saturday, telling reporters the strike was on. But the walkout by 6,700 flight attendants never developed and leaders at the strike control office said the official strike notice was never given. Genoese said U.S. mediators persuaded him to give the situation more time. A Teamsters spokesman said union leaders met with their negotiating team, but officials refused to say what had occurred. A union spokesman said no new negotiating sessions had been scheduled.