By Jesse Russell

Northwest Airlines and unions representing the pilots and flight attendants have been granted an extra week to reach contract agreements. The airline had asked Judge Allen Gropper to throw out the contracts if an agreement was not reached by Friday, but has extended the deadline to February 24. Northwest is seeking major concessions from the two unions in an attempt to reduce labor costs by $1.4 billion a year. Northwest mechanics have been on strike for nearly six months. Various unions will be meeting in front of the Minnesota State Capitol today to demand the company pay unemployment benefits to striking workers.