In response, the union established a $4 million fund to help its members during a possible job action.

The current job action comes at a particularly difficult time economically.

"A lot of people are talking about a job action if something isn't done," he said.

But the meeting was called off because of the job action, he said.

At first, the job action seemed likely to last a day or two.

The job action, Times officials said, began the next day.

"We want to have some sort of a job action before the elections."

American estimates that the job action has cost it more than $40 million.

But it was not clear yesterday whether the union's leadership had called for the job action.

He said the company "didn't expect a job action in response."