Saying their backs were against the wall, members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association struck Northwest Airlines at 11:01 p.m. (CDT) Friday.

Northwest, the world's fourth-largest carrier, said it would continue operations without disruption.

Management demands to eliminate some 2,000 jobs were unacceptable, said Steve McFarlane, assistant national director for AMFA.

"We would prefer to have all of us lose our jobs together, rather than have Northwest pick us off one by one," he said.

Picket lines went up at several locations around the country and the union said picketing would continue round-the-clock, with members taking four-hour shifts.

As the deadline approached for the National Mediation Board to release the parties from the negotiations and enable a strike, Northwest began busing in replacement workers to its maintenance facilities at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the airline's hub.

"We intend to operate our normal schedule of domestic and international flights," said Doug Steenland, president and chief executive officer.

The airline sought $176 million in concessions from AMFA's 5,000 members, who include mechanics, cleaners and custodians.

Even without a walkout, Northwest has indicated it may declare bankruptcy in order to stay in business, as airlines such as United have done. AMFA Local 33 President Ted Ludwig, who represents members in the Twin Cities, said, "We feel all along they're going to use us as a scapegoat for a bankruptcy. That's the price we have to pay to protect our membership."

As the pickets went up, it wasn't clear whether members of other Northwest unions would honor the strike and stay away. Machinists District 143 issued a statement that it had decided not to support AMFA, but would not stop individual members from honoring the picketlines.

" . . . Any IAM member who chooses to stand with AMFA for philosophical reasons, or those who do not report to work because they fear for their safety, shall be fully supported by the Machinists Union," the Machinists union said. "Each individual member's right to make a personal decision on this matter is protected by the collective bargaining agreement, and IAM representatives will defend whatever decision an individual member makes and strictly enforce each member's rights under our contracts."

No information from the Airline Pilots Association or the Professional Flight Attendants Association was available late Friday.

For more information
See the AMFA websites, www.amfanatl.org and www.amfa33.org and the Northwest Airlines website, www.nwa.com