Wednesday, November 22, 2000
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Wednesday, November 22, 2000 |
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Delta pilots' union, company to file for mediation
Delta pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association International, announced that they will make a joint application with Delta Air Lines Inc. for federal mediation. The two parties have also agreed to an aggressive negotiating time line with a potential deadline of April 1, 2001. The two sides will engage in intense mediation for a 90-day period beginning Dec. 1. Absent a tentative agreement by Feb. 28, and subject to National Mediation Board issuance of a proffer of arbitration, the parties will be released to a 30-day cooling-off period, which will expire on or about April 1. At that time, as permitted under the Railway Labor Act, the parties will be free to engage in self-help. "We view this as a positive development that provides for a relatively short, finite time frame to complete our contract negotiations, said Capt. Charles S. Giambusso, chairman of the Delta Master Executive Council, a unit of ALPA. "It will also allow the Delta pilots to focus on a schedule that should result in a successful contract. "In our view," he added, "this indicates that management is serious about reaching an agreement. Delta pilots have lived under a concessionary agreement for almost five years. We are ready to share in the corporate prosperity our sacrifices helped create." ALPA and Delta began negotiations for a new pilot working agreement Sept. 8, 1999, and the current contract became amendable May 2, 2000. While the two sides have made progress in the talks, the major economic portions of the contract including compensation, benefits and job security have yet to be resolved.
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