Would that be like a tree falling in the forest when no one was around to hear it?

Monday Northwest Airlines and AMFA, which represents the still-striking mechanics at the bankrupt airline, announced they had come to another tentative agreement.

If the deal is accepted by the mechanics, workers who struck the airline will be able to resign or go to furlough status. Northwest will also stop fighting union member’s efforts to get unemployment benefits in Minnesota.

According to the Associated Press, the company offered up to 10 weeks of severance pay for those who leave, or up to five weeks for those who switch to layoff status.

And yes, in case you’re wondering, that does mean that at some point those AMFA members who crossed the picket line and went to work for Northwest could be working alongside an AMFA member who struck the airline.

As I have said in the past, AMFA leadership did a horrible disservice to its members with this debacle. It was clear that Northwest had the plans and the resources to weather a potential strike — but AMFA national refused to acknowledge the obvious. AMFA’S past history with other unions also hurt them here — as no other organized labor group at Northwest joined in the AMFA strike against the airline.

You can click here for a copy of the strike settlement agreement.