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Negotiating Process 102





Our Negotiating Committee and the Company met several times this past week. The MEC will receive a comprehensive update on the status of our negotiations and give further direction where needed. We expect that the majority of the meeting will be held in closed session.


Item 3. Negotiating Process “103”: With the 9th MEC meeting for this year scheduled this week, it should be clear that the elected representatives on the MEC have been deeply involved in the ongoing negotiations. As your representatives we have been mindful throughout of your goals and your priorities, as has the Master Chairman and the Negotiating Committee.

While we have kept your priorities and goals front and center during these negotiations, to be clear, this is a negotiation and negotiations require that both parties sign the agreement. Even in an up environment, this requires that both parties will have some of their concerns addressed before they will do so. We have looked at the company’s concerns, directed the negotiators to engage on some of them, and passed on others. Our goal is to negotiate the contract items that are consistent with your priorities and provide the maximum benefit for the most pilots.

We don’t shoot from the hip either when we give direction. In addition to your input, the MEC has received extensive briefings from industry experts, the NMB, negotiators, mediators, arbitrators, economic and financial analysis experts, our Pilot Director, and Delta’s Executive Leadership team. Like flying, the more information you have, the clearer the sight picture becomes. In our multiple MEC meetings, we have directed and redirected our negotiators. We never forget that each decision, and each vote made by the MEC has real consequences for the Delta pilots and their families. Frankly, this process is not for the faint of heart, or those weak on conviction; difficult decisions must be made by all involved in order to move negotiations forward. Failure to make those decisions can stall the negotiating process indefinitely. It is our firm belief that if we reach a TA, this TA will be a significant gain for the Delta Pilots.

As we move forward with our contract negotiations, rumors will abound and we hear them daily. Half-truths, partial information and plainly wrong information, almost always negative, is everywhere. Don’t let these rumors sway your determination, or distract you from your support of our negotiators. Historically, pilot groups that are supportive and unified behind their negotiating committee achieve superior results. We obtain more and greater victories by working together as a unified group.