AP
Comair: Pilots Blocked From Striking
Wednesday February 7, 4:47 pm ET
By Lisa Cornwell, Associated Press Writer Comair: Pilots Blocked From Striking if Concessions Imposed
CINCINNATI (AP) -- A federal bankruptcy judge on Wednesday blocked Comair pilots from going on strike if the Delta Air Lines Inc. subsidiary imposes wage cuts and other concessions on them, the regional airline said.
Judge Adlai Hardin of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York granted Comair's request to block a strike and any other job actions that would disrupt Comair's operations, Comair spokeswoman Kate Marx said. The pilots had authorized their union leaders to call a strike if the airline throws out their contract and imposes concessions.
The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents Comair's 1,500 pilots, will abide by the judge's ruling, said Paul Denke, a union spokesman.
"This decision creates an unlevel playing field in favor of management," he said.
Denke said the union would appeal the judge's ruling.
Hardin ruled Dec. 21 that Comair could impose concessions if a deal was not reached between the company and the union. The next day, Comair asked the judge to block any job action by the pilots, but later asked him to delay that ruling while talks continued in January.
The last negotiating sessions were held last week, and no new talks have been set.
Marx said the company would implement the concessions unless a tentative agreement is reached by 11:59 p.m. Friday. Even if those contract terms are imposed, Marx said Comair would continue to negotiate with pilots on the overall contract and its duration.
Comair has been seeking concessions of $15.8 million a year from the pilots as part of its restructuring plan to save $70 million annually. It has previously gotten concessions from its flight attendants and mechanics.
Denke said the ruling cannot stop pilots from leaving Comair.
"If this management team at Comair/Delta cannot take care of their employees, their employees will find someone who will," he said.
Comair, like its Atlanta-based parent, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2005.
The Erlanger, Ky.-based Comair, near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, previously had an agreement with its pilots for $17.3 million in annual cuts over the next four years. But the deal was contingent on Comair getting a certain level of savings from its flight attendants and mechanics union. Because the flight attendants approved a deal in November to cut annual costs by $7.9 million, $1 million less than originally required, the airline had to negotiate new deals with the machinists and pilots. The machinists agreed to a modified deal, but the pilots did not.
This is another defeat for labor. This is an unlevel playing field and we all know it, the only way to level the field is to support candidates who support organized labor. Maybe, just maybe the CMR pilots will begin to support ALPA-PAC. As a group they have one of the lowest levels of participation in ALPA-PAC.
Comair: Pilots Blocked From Striking
Wednesday February 7, 4:47 pm ET
By Lisa Cornwell, Associated Press Writer Comair: Pilots Blocked From Striking if Concessions Imposed
CINCINNATI (AP) -- A federal bankruptcy judge on Wednesday blocked Comair pilots from going on strike if the Delta Air Lines Inc. subsidiary imposes wage cuts and other concessions on them, the regional airline said.
Judge Adlai Hardin of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York granted Comair's request to block a strike and any other job actions that would disrupt Comair's operations, Comair spokeswoman Kate Marx said. The pilots had authorized their union leaders to call a strike if the airline throws out their contract and imposes concessions.
The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents Comair's 1,500 pilots, will abide by the judge's ruling, said Paul Denke, a union spokesman.
"This decision creates an unlevel playing field in favor of management," he said.
Denke said the union would appeal the judge's ruling.
Hardin ruled Dec. 21 that Comair could impose concessions if a deal was not reached between the company and the union. The next day, Comair asked the judge to block any job action by the pilots, but later asked him to delay that ruling while talks continued in January.
The last negotiating sessions were held last week, and no new talks have been set.
Marx said the company would implement the concessions unless a tentative agreement is reached by 11:59 p.m. Friday. Even if those contract terms are imposed, Marx said Comair would continue to negotiate with pilots on the overall contract and its duration.
Comair has been seeking concessions of $15.8 million a year from the pilots as part of its restructuring plan to save $70 million annually. It has previously gotten concessions from its flight attendants and mechanics.
Denke said the ruling cannot stop pilots from leaving Comair.
"If this management team at Comair/Delta cannot take care of their employees, their employees will find someone who will," he said.
Comair, like its Atlanta-based parent, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2005.
The Erlanger, Ky.-based Comair, near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, previously had an agreement with its pilots for $17.3 million in annual cuts over the next four years. But the deal was contingent on Comair getting a certain level of savings from its flight attendants and mechanics union. Because the flight attendants approved a deal in November to cut annual costs by $7.9 million, $1 million less than originally required, the airline had to negotiate new deals with the machinists and pilots. The machinists agreed to a modified deal, but the pilots did not.
This is another defeat for labor. This is an unlevel playing field and we all know it, the only way to level the field is to support candidates who support organized labor. Maybe, just maybe the CMR pilots will begin to support ALPA-PAC. As a group they have one of the lowest levels of participation in ALPA-PAC.
Has anyone actually seen a Dem in the House, Senate, White House, or Courthouse that was a havenot? Their annual charitable givings are always a telling tale.
