The union told all pilots to stay where they were until noon today.

"At this point," he said, "until the union tells us what they want to get paid, it's going to be hard to make progress."

If that happens, the union has told its members to be prepared to strike.

The union also told members that they could return to their homes.

Northwest's pilots' union told its members last month that it would discuss the idea with the airline.

And what is the union telling the men in the middle?

The union for the flight attendants told its members that United wanted to reduce labor costs by $2.4 billion a year.

Their local union had told them nothing could be done.

The union is not telling players who receive letters what they should do.

The union told the league that there would be a new proposal by the union, the executive said.