When the union presented the case over a year and a half ago for the second attempt at a bankruptcy contract, it was stated at the time that intermediaries were used to contact Delta management directly. The union may well not have "negotiated directly" with Delta, but until this end run around Comair management was made, there was a deadlock in the negotiations that appeared unbreakable. Once contact through the intermediary was made, the second bankruptcy inspired t.a. happened very quickly.