American, Flight Attendants Resume Talks

With President Bush poised to prevent a walkout for another 60 days, AMR Corp.’s American Airlines and its flight attendants resumed negotiations in an effort to reach a settlement. Without an agreement or presidential action, the attendants can strike at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

American flight attendants--whose base pay is between $15,000 and $36,000, according to their union--have been without a contract for more than two years. The union has rejected as inadequate an airline offer to raise their pay 21.6% over six years.

Bush has vowed to prevent any airline strikes. Once he moves to block a strike, a federal board would have 60 days to recommend a settlement, which either side can reject.