Final attempt sought to avert air walkout

Negotiators for the government and air traffic controllers braced Sunday for a final attempt to agree on a new contract and avert a strike. Transportation Secretary Drew Lewis and Robert Poli, president of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, bargained for 10 hours Saturday without reaching agreement. The two teams met separately Sunday morning to try to find grounds for continuing negotiations. Neither side appeared optimistic.

"There are still some things we aren't together on," Mr. Lewis said, adding, "Until we put the money together, we really cannot determine how to figure out whether we're talking something realistic or not."