Union leaders of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines have been encouraging pilots to vote the two pilot groups together, as the deadline of August 11th is now here. The agreement between the two pilot groups includes roughly 12,000 pilots, however it does not include seniority plans. Seniority is an important issue for pilots, since it determines the type of aircraft the pilot flies and the rank he / she is. Ultimately, this helps compose their pay. Leaders of both unions have sent out letters to all pilots urging them to combine to “secure our future in an increasingly difficult industrial and economic environment,” (Lee Moak, Delta’s Pilots Union Chief).
If the two companies would like to merge before the end of the year, pilots need to reach an agreement at some point. Delta and Northwest probably do not want to see a situation similar to US Airways’, who has two pilot’s unions due to the incomplete merger. Hopefully, the combination of both groups will not drastically effect pilot’s pay and job security. I hope that both groups will ink an agreement by the end of the week.
Image: flickr.com
