Otherwise, Delphi said, it would impose wages of $12.50 an hour.

We must not impose minimum wages on businesses, whether or not they can afford them.

After that period ends, the airline can impose new working conditions and wages and the union will be free to strike.

The bankruptcy proceedings, which Northwest entered nearly a year ago, give management considerable power to impose lower wages and benefits on workers.

Late yesterday, Eastern announced that it had asked the bankruptcy court to impose lower wages on the carrier's pilots.

It also imposed across-the-board wage and price controls.

Despite its efforts to impose lower wage and benefit rates, United continued negotiations this week with both the mechanics' and machinists' unions.

Delphi workers have threatened to strike if the company, which has been operating under bankruptcy protection, imposes drastic wage and benefit cuts.

It declared a fiscal crisis, imposed wage and hiring freezes and gave the city 15 days to find a better way to pay for the schools.

Without an agreement by Friday, Delphi has said it will ask a bankruptcy judge to void its labor contracts and impose lower wages and benefits.