news@airwise-
Pilots at Delta Air Lines, the third largest of the US carriers, have refused to start talks about making changes to their contract.
The Atlanta-based airline is looking for ways to cut its costs and is eyeing wage concessions from the cockpit crews.
However, their union, the Airline Pilots Association, made it clear its members are not ready to open discussions. "Management has requested a meeting with union leaders to discuss possible modifications to the pilots' working agreement. We have advised management that a meeting for this purpose is not appropriate at this time, " said Captain William C. Buerget, of ALPA.
"Our pilot working agreement is not amendable until 2005. Management cannot initiate discussions for early modifications without making a specific proposal with detailed justifications. If management makes such a request, the Delta MEC will analyze the request and decide whether to engage in negotiations, and if so, on what basis," he said.
The bleak financial climate in the US airline industry has seen a round of cost cutting calls from major carriers whose pilots are among the highest paid labor groups.
US Airways and United, both operating under bankruptcy protection, have won agreements on wage cuts and American Airlines and Northwest Airlines are now asking for concessions.
I think pretty much every airline is cutting pilot wages--Watch out Doug
