Atlanta Journal & Constitution
Opinion/Editorial – Delta Pilots’ Viewpoint
July 7, 2004
Over one year ago, the Delta pilots offered to give up pay, benefits and work rules to help our company survive through the massive losses of the airline after terrorist attacks and years of the worst economy in recent memory. Our efforts to help, unfortunately, bore no fruit. Even as managers lined their pockets with bonuses and left Delta for greener pastures, and even as our company continued to hemorrhage cash, management showed little interest in engaging in negotiations.
Now, many months and hundreds of millions in losses later, pilots’ paychecks alone continue to be singled out as the crux of Delta’s crisis. Management’s statements regarding the increasing urgency for pilot givebacks are contrasted with the almost glacial pace of a nine-month “strategic review,” which, to date, has not yielded even a hint of what the airline will look like once restructuring has occurred. As the airline continues to bleed and the possibility of bankruptcy looms larger, the only obvious element of management’s strategy has been to focus on pilot costs. We’ve said this before: simply slashing workers’ pay and benefits will not solve this company’s problems. A broader solution is necessary.
It is with this broader view in mind that the Delta pilots’ union is attempting to reengage in negotiations with Delta management to agree on a restructured pilot contract. However, the pilots cannot turn Delta around on our own. Management must be successful in gaining cost reductions from all of Delta’s stakeholders. Only then will Delta be able to return to profitability. We are participating on an ad hoc committee of Delta’s creditors with the hope of making this possible.
The Delta pilots stand ready to participate in Delta’s recovery contingent upon a comprehensive restructuring plan in which all of the company’s costs are addressed. Management’s task is formidable, and our collective futures as employees are in their hands. We will hold them to a high standard. For now, we’ll keep flying the record numbers of Delta customers safely around the world everyday, delivering the service that made Delta great.
Capt. John J. Malone
Chairman, Delta Master Executive Council
Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l.
Opinion/Editorial – Delta Pilots’ Viewpoint
July 7, 2004
Over one year ago, the Delta pilots offered to give up pay, benefits and work rules to help our company survive through the massive losses of the airline after terrorist attacks and years of the worst economy in recent memory. Our efforts to help, unfortunately, bore no fruit. Even as managers lined their pockets with bonuses and left Delta for greener pastures, and even as our company continued to hemorrhage cash, management showed little interest in engaging in negotiations.
Now, many months and hundreds of millions in losses later, pilots’ paychecks alone continue to be singled out as the crux of Delta’s crisis. Management’s statements regarding the increasing urgency for pilot givebacks are contrasted with the almost glacial pace of a nine-month “strategic review,” which, to date, has not yielded even a hint of what the airline will look like once restructuring has occurred. As the airline continues to bleed and the possibility of bankruptcy looms larger, the only obvious element of management’s strategy has been to focus on pilot costs. We’ve said this before: simply slashing workers’ pay and benefits will not solve this company’s problems. A broader solution is necessary.
It is with this broader view in mind that the Delta pilots’ union is attempting to reengage in negotiations with Delta management to agree on a restructured pilot contract. However, the pilots cannot turn Delta around on our own. Management must be successful in gaining cost reductions from all of Delta’s stakeholders. Only then will Delta be able to return to profitability. We are participating on an ad hoc committee of Delta’s creditors with the hope of making this possible.
The Delta pilots stand ready to participate in Delta’s recovery contingent upon a comprehensive restructuring plan in which all of the company’s costs are addressed. Management’s task is formidable, and our collective futures as employees are in their hands. We will hold them to a high standard. For now, we’ll keep flying the record numbers of Delta customers safely around the world everyday, delivering the service that made Delta great.
Capt. John J. Malone
Chairman, Delta Master Executive Council
Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l.
