Union, Airline Says Gatherings Will Not Disrupt Flights... Yet

To drive their point home -- that they are prepared to strike if necessary should their current contract be tossed out in federal bankruptcy court -- the Delta Air Lines branch of the Air Line Pilot's Association announced it will encourage rank-and-file members to stage a series of "practice strikes" throughout the nation this week.

"Please participate in this opportunity to demonstrate our unity and show Delta management what will happen if they choose to reject our contract," ALPA spokeswoman Kelly Collins wrote in a memo to pilots expected to participate in a large scale demonstration planned for Thursday, March 30 at Delta's hub at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Smaller strikes are expected to occur throughout the nation -- already, about a dozen Delta pilots staged an "informational protest" outside Orlando International Airport Sunday.

Collins told the Associated Press a few hundred pilots are expected to participate in the practice strike at ATL. Acitivities may range from merely picketing outside the airport, to marching through the airport. The pilots will be off the clock during the strike.

"They don't stop flying or anything like that," Collins said. "They volunteer to come. It won't interrupt service."

Collins added that pilots will also receive information on communications procedures, should an actual strike occur in the future. 

Delta maintains the demonstrations are not a major issue for the carrier, which is currently slugging it out with its pilots over pay cuts the airline says are vital to its survival.

"There's no disruption to our service or to our customers," said Delta spokesman Bruce Hicks. "Our focus remains on doing everything we can do to reach a consensual, comprehensive agreement with the pilots union. Our energies will continue to be focused on that goal, which we believe is achievable."

They may be the only ones -- as Aero-News reported last week, even a federal mediation panel was unable to resolve longstanding animosity between airline management and its pilots. A three-member panel is expected to decide by April 15th whether Delta is allowed to throw out its contract with their over 6,000 pilots, in order to impose up to $325 million in long-term pay and benefit cuts.

The union has said it will strike if that contract is voided.

FMI: www.delta.com, www.alpa.org