"Consensual Solution In The Best Interests Of All Concerned"

Just as talks come down to the wire in negotiations between Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines, and their workers, the Allied Pilots Association (APA) issued the following statement of support Thursday for the pilots of those beleagured carriers. APA is the collective bargaining agent for the 13,000 pilots of American Airlines.

"As management at Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines seeks rejection of their respective pilots' collective bargaining agreements in bankruptcy court, we applaud the pilots' commitment to achieving an equitable resolution to these contractual disputes. Much like the situation at other financially distressed airlines, we see a clear pattern in which managers attempt to eliminate jobs and reduce employee pay and benefits to barely tolerable levels while protecting their own jobs and compensation. The pilots at these airlines have already sacrificed tremendously in terms of lost pay, pensions and benefits. Despite these sacrifices, their managers are intent on using the bludgeon of the bankruptcy court to achieve labor contract changes far in excess of what is necessary for successful restructuring.

"We commend the determination of both the Northwest and Delta pilots to fight further cuts by using every means at their disposal under the Railway Labor Act. These pilots have worked hard to keep their airlines viable, but have drawn the line in response to the threat to terminate their contracts. Their fight is our fight, and we will do what we can to support their right to a fair and equitable contract. Management at both of these airlines should focus on reaching a negotiated solution with their pilots for the good of all of the airlines' stakeholders as well as the traveling public. The alternative is a strike that would prove costly for all concerned."

Founded in 1963, APA is headquartered in Fort Worth, TX.

FMI: www.alliedpilots.org