By Jesse Russell

After months of strong words on both sides, pilots at bankrupt Northwest Airlines have agreed to concessions of nearly $385 million a year. The contract, approved by 63 percent of the voting members, retains a 23.9 percent pay cut, but protects the pilots from the outsourcing of jobs. Northwest had requested in bankruptcy court throw at the contracts of any unions not meeting concession demands. The pilots had threatened to strike if that happened. The flight attendants are scheduled to vote on June 6 and baggage handlers, represented by the International Association of Machinists, are still working on a new labor deal.