Judge Prohibits Strike

The judge presiding over the bankruptcy court handling Comair's Chapter 11 case barred the airline's pilots union from striking Wednesday.

The airline wants pilots to accept $15.8 million in pay cuts
already approved by the court. So far, the airline has tried to get its pilots to agree to the cuts via negotiations, but a deadline prohibiting Comair from imposing cuts unilaterally expires this Friday at 23:59 EST.

The union has threatened to strike should Comair impose the court-authorized cuts without its agreement, but Wednesday's ruling quashes that threat.

Comair says it's still hopeful it can reach an agreement with the union before the deadline, but no talks are scheduled between now and then.

Airline spokeswoman Kate Marx told the Associated Press, "There is still an opportunity to negotiate," however, Marx acknowledges even if cuts are imposed, bargaining will continue because the court-authorized cuts, since they are not a contract, don’t include key elements such as how long the cuts will remain in place.

Union spokesman Paul Denke said, "This isn't over yet. We will abide by the court’s ruling and await our appeal or a decision from a similar appeal already in progress," referring to an appeal by Northwest workers also prohibited from striking by a bankruptcy judge. In arguing for the judge to block the strike Wednesday, Comair's attorney's cited the Northwest case.

As the bankruptcy judge in the case has noted -- without objection by the union -- Comair's pilots are the best paid in their industry segment. Each makes, on average, $59,600 per year, with pay ranging from a low of $23,000 to upward of $110,000 per year.

Arguments from both sides in court fell along already established lines with the airline warning a strike would interfere with its reorganization, and the union accusing the airline of focusing more on the court case than on labor negotiations.

Denke added the injunction can't interfere with pilots exercising their ultimate right to vote with their feet saying, "What this injunction can’t stop are pilots who leave of their own accord. If our company can't take care of its employees their employees will find someone who will."

According to the Associated Press, the union has held several job fairs for those seeking employment elsewhere.

FMI: www.comair.com