DAL/NWA Letter follows-
ALPA: The Pilots Union
June 16, 2008
To All NWA and DAL Pilots,
We are writing concerning the proposed Northwest–Delta merger and the Delta MEC’s Letter of Agreement (LOA) 19.
The Delta and Northwest MECs, as well as ALPA at the national level, agree that achieving a single, joint collective bargaining agreement with Delta management—an agreement that will improve the pay, working conditions, and benefits of both pilot groups—is a top priority.
Our joint message of April 22, 2008 stated that:
“… negotiations would seek a single collective bargaining agreement that will include immediate parity in rates of pay effective on the closing date of the proposed corporate transaction.”
On the important issue of seniority integration, our April 22 statement further provided that:
“… seniority integration should be accomplished through expedited negotiation after the negotiation of the single collective bargaining agreement and, if necessary, using expedited arbitration to be completed before closing of a corporate transaction.”
We continue to fully support these joint goals. In this regard, as you may know, the two negotiating committees met jointly with Delta management on May 29 and presented to management a joint bullet-point proposal designed to establish a framework for further negotiations. The committees received an updated financial briefing on June 12, which will be followed by negotiations with Delta management on June 17–19. Further negotiations are scheduled to commence on June 23.
Management understands and agrees that these negotiations are a high priority and has indicated its willingness to meet as frequently as reasonably necessary to reach an agreement. In addition, we met with Delta CEO Richard Anderson on June 10, when we stressed again the importance of promptly completing a joint agreement. We are hopeful that the process now under way will result in a joint agreement sooner rather than later.
The joint agreement will be built from a base that consists of the Delta Pilot Working Agreement (PWA), including LOA 19, and provisions related to the Northwest collective bargaining agreement, as necessary.
Following completion of joint negotiations, we will focus on the integration of the two seniority lists with the goal of having a single integrated list in place at the close of the corporate transaction.
We all agree on the importance of moving forward now to reach a single joint contract and an integrated seniority list before the corporate closing. The Northwest and Delta pilots will have the collective support and resources of the Association at their disposal to accomplish that goal.
In Unity,
Captain Dave Stevens
Chairman, NWA MEC
Captain John Prater
President
Captain Lee Moak
Chairman, DAL MEC