FROM THE SLC TRIB
Monday's debut of Atlantic Southeast Airlines flights out of Salt Lake City International Airport was marred by a picket line of frustrated pilots.
A dozen ASA pilots from bases around the country marched in front of the Delta Air Lines terminal protesting the company's unwillingness, after two years of contract negotiations, to reach any substantial agreement.
The first ASA flights out of Salt Lake City had begun early Monday as part of Delta's new operating schedule. ASA is a wholly owned Delta subsidiary and had part of its Dallas-Ft. Worth airport operation moved to Salt Lake City when Delta closed its hub there.
ASA, which operates connecting flights for Delta, moved 17 70-passenger airplanes to Utah along with 150 pilots, 150 flight attendants and 40 maintenance employees.
As part of Delta's worldwide restructuring to avoid bankruptcy, the Atlanta-based airline added 27 new flights to 13 new destinations out of Salt Lake City.
Rick Bernskoetter, an ASA pilot and spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association, said contract negotiations opened in September 2002, but despite regular meetings with management negotiators, they have made little progress. So far, negotiators have only dealt with work-condition issues.
"We are frustrated. Management has been dragging feet at the table for the past two years," Bernskoetter said. "They haven't been taking it seriously."
Atlanta-based ASA spokeswoman Gina Pesko said ASA, like the rest of the airline industry, is going through challenging financial times, but continues to bargain with its pilots in good faith.
"Today in particular, ASA is really focused on providing the best possible service to our Salt Lake City customers," Pesko said. "We want to make sure our first day in the market comes off very successfully."
Bernskoetter said ASA's 1,600 pilots have yet to address pay and benefits simply because the negotiations have not gotten that far. "Nothing's on the table. We haven't even started talking yet."
Company officials have made it clear they are disappointed with the picketing, he said, particularly on the debut of operations in Salt Lake City.
"We're disappointed, too. We're disappointed in the progress of negotiations," Bernskoetter said. "This is one of the few tools we have available to us to get things moving."
Monday's debut of Atlantic Southeast Airlines flights out of Salt Lake City International Airport was marred by a picket line of frustrated pilots.
A dozen ASA pilots from bases around the country marched in front of the Delta Air Lines terminal protesting the company's unwillingness, after two years of contract negotiations, to reach any substantial agreement.
The first ASA flights out of Salt Lake City had begun early Monday as part of Delta's new operating schedule. ASA is a wholly owned Delta subsidiary and had part of its Dallas-Ft. Worth airport operation moved to Salt Lake City when Delta closed its hub there.
ASA, which operates connecting flights for Delta, moved 17 70-passenger airplanes to Utah along with 150 pilots, 150 flight attendants and 40 maintenance employees.
As part of Delta's worldwide restructuring to avoid bankruptcy, the Atlanta-based airline added 27 new flights to 13 new destinations out of Salt Lake City.
Rick Bernskoetter, an ASA pilot and spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association, said contract negotiations opened in September 2002, but despite regular meetings with management negotiators, they have made little progress. So far, negotiators have only dealt with work-condition issues.
"We are frustrated. Management has been dragging feet at the table for the past two years," Bernskoetter said. "They haven't been taking it seriously."
Atlanta-based ASA spokeswoman Gina Pesko said ASA, like the rest of the airline industry, is going through challenging financial times, but continues to bargain with its pilots in good faith.
"Today in particular, ASA is really focused on providing the best possible service to our Salt Lake City customers," Pesko said. "We want to make sure our first day in the market comes off very successfully."
Bernskoetter said ASA's 1,600 pilots have yet to address pay and benefits simply because the negotiations have not gotten that far. "Nothing's on the table. We haven't even started talking yet."
Company officials have made it clear they are disappointed with the picketing, he said, particularly on the debut of operations in Salt Lake City.
"We're disappointed, too. We're disappointed in the progress of negotiations," Bernskoetter said. "This is one of the few tools we have available to us to get things moving."
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