US Airways, Delta employees have mixed reaction to potential merger

US Airways and America West Airlines pilot groups, represented by the Air Line Pilots Assn., conducted informational picketing yesterday in Charlotte and Phoenix, upset that the company is looking to acquire Delta Air Lines even though it "has yet to complete the integration of the pilot groups that is required" by terms of last year's US/AWA merger.

"So far, the company's empty promises have failed to capture all the synergies that just the US Airways/America West merger can provide," US Airways ALPA MEC Chairman Jack Stephan said.

"We recognize US Airways senior management's enthusiasm for a merger with Delta. However, before it can be successful, management must first focus on fulfilling the promises made to their investors, customers and employees," AWA MEC Chairman Kevin Kent added.

US pilots' desire to share in the company's improving financial situation (ATWOnline, Oct. 27) has been a source of recent tension (the picketing was planned before Wednesday's announcement), but it appears to have been exacerbated by the Delta bid. "US Airways has posted remarkable profits for three consecutive quarters due to the efforts of frontline employees such as the pilots, yet they refuse to fully engage in negotiations for a contract that recognizes our contributions," Kent concluded.

ALPA said from Washington that "pilots shouldn't be surprised" by the merger and that the union "will be intensely involved in defending our members' interests as this deal and any others are considered."

US flight attendants, represented by the Assn. of Flight Attendants-CWA, were more reserved, saying only that US "wants to continue the process of merging US Airways and America West labor contracts and operations prior to the potential Delta merger," which would occur "in excess of eight months." The union said its MEC would be briefed by AFA attorneys on the issues that may result from nonunionized Delta cabin staff working without a collective bargaining agreement.

The International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents more than 10,000 maintenance and fleet service workers at US, also expressed concern over the timing of the Delta deal, saying, "If US Airways hopes to complete a successful merger with Delta or any other airline they must first conclude the ongoing negotiations with the Machinists Union regarding the integration of America West employees into US Airways." IAM General VP Robert Roach Jr. said US CEO Doug Parker "contacted me and indicated a desire to work with the Machinists Union. We are prepared to work together as long as all affected employees' interests are fully protected."

IAM told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Delta baggage handlers had contacted the union. "One of the biggest issues they had was that they feared being lost in a merger between Delta and a unionized carrier," an IAM spokesperson told the paper.

Delta pilots, the only large unionized (ALPA) work group at the carrier, said, "Merger and acquisition talks are a part of normal business in the airline industry and in particular when bankruptcy scenarios are involved. The Delta MEC has expended considerable effort over the past year to ensure we are prepared for any eventuality and that we can fight to preserve the best interests of the Delta pilots in any potential merger or acquisition scenario."