Pilots picket at Delta's hub

Bid for executive severance angers union members

By Harry R. Weber
The Associated Press
Posted February 18 2006.

ATLANTA - More than two dozen Delta Air Lines Inc. pilots brought the fight over their contract to their employer's doorstep Friday as they held signs berating management for asking pilots to take more pay and benefit cuts while the company tries to get court approval for a controversial severance plan for officers.

The picketing at the passenger drop-off area outside Delta's terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the company's main hub, came after the pilots union and airline Thursday failed to agree on another round of concessions.

If negotiators for the pilots union and company can't reach a comprehensive deal on new concessions by March 1, a three-person panel would decide the company's request to reject the pilot contract so Delta can impose more than $300 million in cuts unilaterally.

The pilots union has said it will strike if its contract is thrown out. The company has warned a strike would put the nation's third-largest carrier out of business.

"The pilots are telling us they are extremely disappointed in Delta management and are tired of listening to management's demands," union spokesman John Culp said as rank-and-file members walked in a circle holding signs.

Some pilots held signs that said "career employees, turnstile management," and "it's not the cost of fuel, it's the lack of leadership." Another sign read: "Employee sacrifices should not enrich management."

Passengers at the world's busiest airport went about their business.

"This is informational picketing only and is not causing any disturbance to our service," Delta spokesman Bruce Hicks said.

On Thursday, the union warned that if the bankruptcy court approves the severance payouts, it could hurt efforts to agree on more pilot concessions. Delta is asking for what could amount to $14 million in severance for officers and directors who are fired as part of the company's reorganization.

not sure I understand, what is the severance plan for officers mean?

Typical in the corporate world. You have your top couple hundred execs and when times get tough, cuts must be made. I know of airline managers who get "furloughed", and they go to lower level jobs. But sometimes you are just in the wrong place at the wrong time and your job gets cut, and you can't go down a level. This is why they have severance packages.

Imagine you were a 767 Captain for delta (pretty senior), then Delta retires the 767 fleet. Instead of going down to say the 737-800, you were fired (wrong place/wrong time). This is hat its like for managers, and that is why they get severance packages (pay and benefits for short term).

I wish it was as simplistic as that. These "Managers" are raping the companies they work for and then skipping off to the next airline so that they can pull more of the same BS.

Sorry, these guys don't need retention bonuses when they've lost billions running the company. Meanwhile the rank and file workers are being asked to take 40% reductions so the management can "save" the airline and fund their lucrative deals.

Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out you overpaid, underperforming Managers.

What he said X 2

What he said x3!

Well said 757Driver!

Yeah I think the difference here is that if they did retire that 767 fleet due to poor ontime performance due to pilots actions they are not about to give us a severence package and thats about the best way I can put there performance record. To tell you the truth i've never heard of any pilots getting anything on the way out the door except their pensions or retirements slipped right from their pockets.

XtremeF150