U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Allan Gropper on Thursday denied a Northwest Airlines request to block a strike by its flight attendants that could begin as soon as Aug. 25, saying in his written ruling he does not have the authority to do so. The union has not said what kind of strike it plans. It could range from occasional, unannounced strikes at specific gates or flights to a full-scale walkout. The idea is that even small-scale disruptions can cause passengers to book away from an airline, giving the union leverage.
See "Northwest attendants can strike, court says", Tribune news services, Chicago Tribune, August 17, 2006