JonnyKnoxville
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Delta pilots nix arbitration
Associated Press
March 20, 2008
Delta Air Lines Inc.'s pilots union rejected Wednesday theidea of submitting to arbitration with their counterparts at NorthwestAirlines Corp. to break their impasse over integrating seniority listsas part of a possible combination of the carriers.
"In short, there will be no binding arbitration," LeeMoak, head of Delta's pilots union, said in an e-mail to the AssociatedPress.
Pilot union leaders at Northwest had suggested in a memoto rank-and-file Northwest pilots on Tuesday that arbitration may be away to break the deadlock. Traditionally, arbitration in thesesituations is binding.
The memo said that "if management feels the time is nowfor consolidation, they would be wise to encourage both pilot groups toaccept expedited arbitration."
Arbitration can be a long, contentious process thattraditionally follows announcement of a deal between two airlines iftheir unions can't reach contractual or seniority agreements on theirown.
In this case, Atlanta-based Delta and Eagan, Minn.-basedNorthwest have not announced a combination agreement, and Deltaexecutives have stated they will only move forward on such a deal withanother airline if, among other things, the seniority of theiremployees is protected.
Arbitration might not be desirable for Delta's pilotsunion because of concern that younger Delta pilots might lose theseniority they obtained after the mass exodus of older pilots ahead ofDelta's bankruptcy filing in 2005, industry observers have said. Theairline emerged from Chapter 11 protection last April.
Delta has about 7,000 pilots, including 342 based atCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the airline'ssecond-largest hub.
The two carriers don't need a pilot seniority integrationdeal in advance to move forward with a combination, but having one inplace could help speed up the integration of the companies down theline.
Delta shares rose 34 cents to close at $10.43 Wednesday.
Associated Press
March 20, 2008
Delta Air Lines Inc.'s pilots union rejected Wednesday theidea of submitting to arbitration with their counterparts at NorthwestAirlines Corp. to break their impasse over integrating seniority listsas part of a possible combination of the carriers.
"In short, there will be no binding arbitration," LeeMoak, head of Delta's pilots union, said in an e-mail to the AssociatedPress.
Pilot union leaders at Northwest had suggested in a memoto rank-and-file Northwest pilots on Tuesday that arbitration may be away to break the deadlock. Traditionally, arbitration in thesesituations is binding.
The memo said that "if management feels the time is nowfor consolidation, they would be wise to encourage both pilot groups toaccept expedited arbitration."
Arbitration can be a long, contentious process thattraditionally follows announcement of a deal between two airlines iftheir unions can't reach contractual or seniority agreements on theirown.
In this case, Atlanta-based Delta and Eagan, Minn.-basedNorthwest have not announced a combination agreement, and Deltaexecutives have stated they will only move forward on such a deal withanother airline if, among other things, the seniority of theiremployees is protected.
Arbitration might not be desirable for Delta's pilotsunion because of concern that younger Delta pilots might lose theseniority they obtained after the mass exodus of older pilots ahead ofDelta's bankruptcy filing in 2005, industry observers have said. Theairline emerged from Chapter 11 protection last April.
Delta has about 7,000 pilots, including 342 based atCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the airline'ssecond-largest hub.
The two carriers don't need a pilot seniority integrationdeal in advance to move forward with a combination, but having one inplace could help speed up the integration of the companies down theline.
Delta shares rose 34 cents to close at $10.43 Wednesday.
