fireman0174

Delta Pilots Approve Concessions Deal
Wednesday May 31, 11:21 am ET
By Harry R. Weber, AP Business Writer

Delta Pilots Approve Concessions Deal That Includes 14 Percent Pay Cut

ATLANTA (AP) -- Delta Air Lines Inc. pilots approved Wednesday an agreement with the bankrupt carrier that calls for $280 million in annual concessions, including an initial 14 percent pay cut, the union said.

The vote by the Atlanta-based airline's rank-and-file pilots was 61 percent in favor, the union said in a memo to pilots.

The agreement, which runs through 2009, would take effect Thursday, assuming a bankruptcy court judge also approves the deal at a hearing later Wednesday in White Plains, N.Y. The government's pension insurer has objected, insisting that a $650 million note and $2.1 billion unsecured claim that Delta has promised the pilots should belong to the agency if the pilots' pension is terminated as expected.

If the concessions deal does not get final approval by the court, it could spell trouble for the nation's third-largest carrier. That's because an arbitration panel would again consider the company's request to reject its pilot contract so it could unilaterally impose the cuts it wants. The pilots have promised to strike if their contract is rejected. A strike would doom Delta.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060531/delta_pilots.html?.v=4

CVG767A

I voted for it. It's not a great T/A, but the alternatives seemed worse to me. Now we'll see if this will let Delta turn the corner. A growing company is the best job security, especially for the junior guys.

Ottopilot

That sucks. I'm sorry you had to even be in the position to vote on this. The alternatives are scary. Good luck to you and Delta. The other airlines (like mine) always looked at Delta as the airline who set the bar high in pay and gave us something to strive for and improve our own contract. It seems more about survival than pay now. I hope it turns around soon for all of us.

CVG767A

Good luck to you guys, too. Now that we're seeing some signs of improvement in the industry, I hope that things turn around quickly enough to take the pressure off those of you that haven't gone though this. It seems like we take the hits, but the MBA brain trust remains unscathed by the turmoil.

atpwannabe

As a former Delta ramp employee and a member of the flying public, my loyalty still lies w/Delta...no matter come what may. I have always enjoyed flying Delta and will continue to do so in the future. I hope that this agreement for the pilots (whatever it is worth), will allow Delta to turn the corner and go forward.

atp

calcapt

Well said. Ditto....

reddog25

Yeah...I know thta's what some of our junior people said at NWA............Man ya gotta step away from the crack pipe!

fireman0174

DP3, the group established by DAL pilot retirees, withdrew their objection to the just accepted agreement between DAL and ALPA. Does anyone have any particulars about this?

CVG767A

Did I vote the right way? I don't know, and only time will tell. We are barraged with "facts" from both sides designed to sway our vote. Some are true, some are guesswork, some wishful thinking, and some are outright lies. All I can do is wade through the information provided and guess at what it all means, as well as what the future holds.

My guess is that nobody who voted yes feels good about it.