Northwest Airlines says talks with mechanics are at an impasse Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS - Northwest Airlines said its talks with mechanics are at an impasse and has asked for a 30-day cooling-off period, the mechanics' union said Wednesday. The next step would be arbitration, but if either side refuses, mechanics could strike after the 30-day period ends. Mechanics have not decided whether they want arbitration, said Jeff Mathews, contract coordinator and negotiations spokesman for the Aircraft Fraternal Mechanics Association. Eagan-based Northwest has been seeking to cut mechanic pay by around 25 percent and lay off nearly half of them. Northwest pilots agreed to concessions last fall, but its other unions have resisted. "AMFA remains unwilling to not only agree to any single meaningful labor cost savings proposal, but also refuses to acknowledge that such labor cost savings are necessary or appropriate," Northwest Vice President for Labor Relations Julie Hagen Showers wrote to the National Mediation Board. Roger EWROPS