If anything I've learned in the last 20 years of labor negotiations is, deals only stick if everyone is happy with the outcome. (ref: USAirways and Reno Air) A "staple" might make all the Delta pilots happy, but probably wouldn't make all the EDV pilots happy - just wait until they sue claiming their MEC didn't provide "Right to fair representation" and I think they'd have law to back them up - As we've seen, there are enough labor firms who will take that case, hoping for lots of billable hours.

So - the possible result could be an arbitrator insisting on a merged listed, not a staple.

To me, all the benefit of a merged list lies on the EDV side, while NONE exists on the Delta side. And the potential for an arbitrated list (that we would not like) as a possible outcome is medium to high.

I'd vote no on any deal.