Demand Management To Share Profits From Expanded Alliance

So much for the idea that airline alliances avoid the messier aspects of full-fledged mergers. In response to the announced expansion of the Alaska/Horizon-Delta Airlines marketing alliance, Alaska's pilots called upon management this week to negotiate a contract that includes the pilots in the success this alliance likely will generate.

"This expanded relationship with Delta Airlines shows our management is aware of the benefits that can be reaped from a collaborative relationship. It's too bad management is not relating with its own employees, particularly its pilots, in the same way," said Capt. Bill Shivers, chairman of the Alaska Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association, Intl.

"Alaska is using the synergies of this alliance to draw upon the strengths of both our own carrier and the combined Delta-Northwest's international network to strengthen our airlines' future prospects. As Alaska Airlines continues to develop and expand its relationship with Delta, it is time to stop excluding this pilot group from that success," Shivers said.

Alaska pilots have been in direct negotiations for a new contract for nearly two years... and requested the assistance of a federal mediator in July.

The pilots state that if mediated negotiations fail to produce an agreement, and if either party rejects a proffer of binding arbitration, the next step would be a 30-day cooling off period followed by the possibility of a pilot strike. Flight crews say they're currently are working under an arbitrated contract that cut pay by as much as 35%, and are seeking a contract that improves and protects their work rules.

Alaska's pilots, as well as the newly-merged Delta and Northwest pilots, all are members of ALPA, and we look forward to working productively with them to continue representing the interests of the members of our respective pilot groups," Shivers added.

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