Flight Attendants Make Plans For Possible Job Actions

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 04.17.06 1230 EST: Nearly 1,000 flight attendants at Delta regional subsidiary Comair are preparing for possible job actions in anticipation of Federal Bankruptcy Judge Adlai Hardin's scheduled ruling Monday on Comair's motion to reject the flight attendants' contract.

Representatives with the Teamsters tell ANN that should Judge Hardin grant Comair's motion, the carrier must then decide if it intends to impose tough concessions in pay and benefits. The flight attendants -- who earlier this month voted 93 percent in favor of authorizing a strike -- will be free to respond in kind should the company choose to implement their plan.

"Under a fair agreement we've met the company's needs, but they haven't budged off their unfair demand for excessive concessions," said Connie Slayback, Local 513 President. "Delta Comair is putting the flight attendants in the position of giving massive concessions while still being in danger of losing their jobs."

After being granted an additional week to talk by the judge on April 10, negotiations between the two parties broke off last week, in anticipation of Hardin's decision.

"We have always been willing to do our fair share in response to the Delta Comair bankruptcy," Slayback said. "The company's executives are using the bankruptcy court to avoid a meaningful agreement, arrogantly assuming the judge will endorse their bad faith bargaining."

FMI: www.comair.com, www.teamsters.org