Gains hinted in talks at Delta
Saturday ruling may be delayed
By RUSSELL GRANTHAM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/14/06

Talks on a strike-averting contract deal continued Thursday between Delta Air Lines and its pilots union, with hints of progress that might at least delay a showdown.

Spokesmen for both sides declined to characterize the talks, being held in New York with the help of one member of an arbitration panel that has been involved in the dispute since last month.

People familiar with the situation said negotiators were trading proposals and narrowing differences.

Even if no deal is reached today, they said, the arbitration panel might delay a scheduled Saturday ruling on whether Delta can void its pilots contract and impose new terms. Pilot union leaders have said such a ruling would prompt a strike, and the union chairman is authorized to call one anytime after Monday.

The arbitration panel chairman, Richard Bloch, told The Associated Press he might have a statement by the end of the week, but he declined to elaborate on what the statement might say.

The strike threat has fliers and Delta workers nervous, although the airline has maintained travelers can continue booking "with confidence" as it seeks a negotiated settlement. Delta on Thursday issued a routine news release touting new flights and routes this summer from New York.

Delta wants to impose more than $300 million in annual cost cuts as part of its broader Chapter 11 recovery effort. It includes an 18 percent pay cut — the second major round of concessions in less than two years.

The airline says it's seeking the minimum package needed, while the pilots union says it's too much.

In earlier negotiations, the Airline Pilots Association offered a package it valued at $140 million a year. Another issue is the amount and form of compensation that pilots would get for retirement changes likely as part of Delta's court restructuring.

Negotiators were said to be dealing with such issues by informally swapping package proposals rather than dealing with pay cuts, pensions and other items as separate points. They have been meeting in a New York hotel under the guidance of arbitrator Robert Harris.

The panel of arbitrators entered the case in March, after the two sides failed to meet a deadline for a deal. They have urged the two sides to keep working toward a negotiated settlement rather than wait for a ruling due Saturday on whether Delta can impose terms.

Delta contends a pilot strike as a result of such a ruling would be illegal, but the issue falls in a legal gray area between labor and bankruptcy law.

Separately, Delta said it increased fuel surcharges starting today on overseas flights by up to $38 round-trip to offset rising jet fuel prices.

Find this article at:
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/...4bizdelta.html

There's a rumor on the DALPA boards that we have a T/A, as of 8am today. No details yet.

It's a message from Lee Moak to the membership. This would be the first time that pilots have gotten such news from their representatives before reading about it in the morning paper. A big step forward.

Let's hope this is all true. That would be great news.

Delta Air Lines, Pilot Union Negotiators Reach Tentative Agreement
Friday April 14, 9:39 am ET

ATLANTA, April 14, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines today confirmed that a tentative agreement has been reached between the negotiators for the company and the Air Line Pilots Association, the collective bargaining representative for Delta's approximately 6,000 active pilots.

ALPA's Master Executive Council (MEC), the leadership body of the Delta pilot union, will decide whether to put the tentative agreement before Delta pilots for a vote. In addition to pilot ratification, the agreement is also subject to U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval.

The company is not disclosing details at this time. ``We are going to respect the MEC review process,'' said Edward H. Bastian, Delta's executive vice president, chief financial officer and head of the company's in-court restructuring efforts. ``We have worked hard together as a team to forge an agreement that is good for Delta and all of its constituents,'' he added.

``Delta passengers can continue to book on Delta with confidence. There has been no disruption to our service. Our pilots are performing professionally, flying as scheduled, and together with all Delta employees, are taking good care of our customers,'' emphasized Bastian. Barring any disruptions, the company is on track to achieve approximately 70 percent of its business plan's benefits by the end of this year, with the goal of successfully emerging from bankruptcy in 2007.

http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/060414/97412.html

I'll bet its a doozy. Hang on to your pocketbooks boys. I wonder how much lower than NWA your guys T/A will be?

Good Luck,

AA, you guys are next. Followed closely by CAL and UAL, etc..... Get ready for round 3 of concessions, boys. How low can you go?

How low can you go? Good question!

Sadly, I expect the Delta deal will indeed result in a further significant reduction in pilot compensation -- and this deal will simply be another step in a steady procession of reduced compensation for pilots throughout the industry. I don't know how low we can go. Probably each pilot has his/her individual answer to that question.

I wouldn't be surprised if professional commercial flying for the airlines develops into something that mainly young, single people do for, say, ten years or so -- during that time they wouldn't make much, but they'd do a lot of flying and have fun. But once pilots had children and "settled down," many would opt for a second career doing something else, simply because they could make more money that way.

What's driving this? The cheap ticket. It's transforming/wrecking our industry.