NWA ALPA's Take on the Merger
In This Hotline
NWA MEC Opposes NWA/DAL Merger Monday, April 14, 2008
Today the managements and Boards of Directors of Northwest and Delta Air Lines announced their intent to merge. In addition, a new pilot contract was agreed upon by the Delta MEC and Delta management without the participation of the Northwest pilot group. No details on this contract are available at present. The Northwest MEC strongly opposes the merger with Delta Air Lines as it stands.
Reasons for Opposition:
Northwest pilots will be disadvantaged in obtaining a joint contract and potentially in the seniority list integration process.
The current process is highly likely to recreate the USAirways-America West merger environment.
Northwest pilots are not brought to immediate parity with Delta pilots, potentially putting Northwest pilots on a B-Scale for years.
This merger announcement has come after months of negotiations which had resolved all joint pilot contract issues except for the differing views on the integration of pilot seniority. The NWA MEC, on numerous occasions, stated our willingness to resolve seniority integration by expedited arbitration. The Delta pilot leadership rejected arbitration as a means of resolving the seniority list issue at that time, but has now reversed its position. The Delta pilot leadership also abandoned the joint pilot contract approach and agreed to a new Delta pilot contract that increased the pay and benefits for their pilots only. Any previous value and synergy created by the merger is likely to be lost due to this one-sided agreement.
More information is available in a Ziplines from MEC Chairman Dave Stevens which will be published shortly.
This marks the end of today's Hotline.
Your MEC remains committed to protecting your jobs, your seniority and your future