Delta Pilots Vow to Strike If They Lose Contract

Delta Air Lines Inc. pilots aren’t mincing words anymore: The chairman of the union’s executive committee said Thursday that the pilots would strike if their contract was thrown out as part of the carrier’s attempt to impose $325 million in concessions.

The chairman, Lee Moak, also said the airline had informed the union that it believed the pilots’ defined benefit pension plan would be terminated.

“If our contract is rejected, we will strike,” Moak said in his most definitive statement on the subject to date.

Union leaders had said the pilots would not “willingly work without a contract,” interpreted by many people as a strike threat. However, until Thursday, union leaders had been cautious not to say they would definitely strike if the contract was rejected.

The nation’s third-largest carrier has said a strike would put the Atlanta-based company out of business.

In response to Moak’s comments, Delta spokesman John Kennedy repeated past company statements that the airline hoped to reach an agreement with its pilots.

“Our language hasn’t changed,” Kennedy said. “We’re in negotiations, so that’s all we’re focused on.”

Kennedy said he was certain Delta hadn’t made a decision on the future of the pilots’ pension.

“We’re fighting hard to save our plans and are certainly awaiting the outcome of the pension bill in Congress,” he said.

Delta and the negotiating committee of the union that represents its 6,000 pilots have less than three weeks to reach an agreement on a second round of permanent pay and benefit cuts.

If the sides can’t do that by March 1, a three-person arbitration panel will decide Delta’s request that its contract with its pilots be thrown out so that the company can impose $325 million in cuts unilaterally.

The pilots union has offered about $115 million in annual concessions.