Northwest and Flight Attendants Must go Through the Motions

The National Mediation Board (NMB) told Northwest Airlines and its flight attendants represented by the AFA-CWA to get back to the negotiating table yesterday. I think you could almost hear the heavy sigh from the NMB as they rubber stamped this decision. No one expected them to declare an impasses despite being requested to do just that by the AFA-CWA. By the same token I think there are serious doubts by many, including the NMB, that telling the two sides to negotiate again will change anything. The two remain worlds apart. Interesting that neither Northwest or the AFA-CWA issued press releases this morning. Normally both sides have prepared statements canned and ready to rock. Are they waiting each other out to see what the posture will be?