A bankruptcy judge has given Northwest Airlines and unions representing pilots and flight attendants more time to negotiate a settlement before deciding whether to dissolve the union contracts.

Judge Allan Gropper was scheduled to rule Friday on Northwest's request that the union contracts be abrogated while it goes through bankruptcy reorganization, but Gropper extended the deadline until Wednesday, March 1. It was the second time he has given the parties more time to negotiate.

In the meantime, members of the Air Line Pilots Association will complete balloting on whether to strike the airline, and plan to conduct informational picketing at airports Tuesday, Feb. 28, the union announced.

Members of the Professional Flight Attendants Association also are voting whether to strike the airline; that balloting is scheduled to be completed on March 6.

In addition, ground workers represented by the International Association of Machinists are voting until March 1 on a tentative settlement with Northwest. They also are deciding whether to strike if the contract is rejected.