By JoAnne Powers

Following last week's announcement that it was entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Nortwest Airlines has told the pilots union that it is cutting 400 pilot jobs, beginning in November.

Will Holman of the Air Line Pilots Association:

[Holman] "The loss of jobs is one reason why we've been workin' very hard trying to avoid bankruptcy for the past two and a half years."

The airline is still seeking contract concessions from striking machinists and other employees. Unions are also concerned that the bankruptcy may jeopardize existing pensions and health plans for retired workers. Northwest has not yet asked the bankruptcy judge in New York for permission to cut wages and benefits, saying it first wants to try to negotiate those cuts with unions. Holman feels that the bankruptcy has changed the landscape, if not the tone, of the negotiations:

[Holman] "Well, you lose a lot of leverage, you lose a lot of control. The bankruptcy filing begins a very specific legal process. Management definitely, as they have stated before bankruptcy, is attempting to negotiate concessions with all the different labor groups, so we expect management to ask for similar requests, and ALPA will be fully engaged in that process every step of the way."