By Doug Cunningham

Striking Northwest Airlines mechanics are scheduled to resume contract talks with the company today. It was one year ago this week that the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) went on strike. It was triggered by failure to reach an agreement and Northwest’s imposing job cuts of 2,000 along with a 26 percent pay cut. It’s been a rough year for the strikers thanks to weak labor laws that let Northwest Airlines hire 1200 strike-breaking replacement workers and outsource some mechanics’ work. Some union members also crossed the picket lines to return to work.