Delta Connection Carrier Faces Shutdown

News from the Air Line Pilots Association... which told ANN that pilots at Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines announced Tuesday that they have voted to authorize their elected union representatives to conduct a lawful withdrawal of services, at the appropriate time, if contract talks do not result in an agreement.

In other words... a strike.

"Our pilots have been in contract negotiations for nearly four years, despite the fact that our company continues to post profits and issues nothing but good news to the financial world," said Capt. David Nieuwenhuis, chairman of the ASA pilots' Master Executive Council (MEC). "That's as long as the duration of some contracts!"

ALPA reports the 1,700-plus ASA pilots overwhelmingly supported the union's strike authorization ballot, with more than 92 percent of the responding pilots voting in support of the measure.

Any pilot strike would be subject to the release of the two parties by the National Mediation Board (NMB) to engage in "self-help" following the conclusion of a 30-day cooling-off period as outlined in the federal Railway Labor Act, as well as MEC debate and consideration of the totality of the circumstances... which might include the complete closure of the regional airline.

The ASA pilots began collective bargaining with management in September 2002, when their most current agreement became amendable. Negotiations have been conducted with the assistance of the NMB since May 2004. However, in May 2006, the NMB recessed the talks, citing that the two parties were too far apart on their proposals for the open sections of the contract.

"Our proposals are more than reasonable, and we have been extremely flexible throughout this process," Capt. Nieuwenhuis said. "ASA management has strung out these negotiations for far too long. It's way past the time to have a deal. With this strike authorization vote, our pilots are sending a clear message that we've had it with this nonsense! When the appropriate time comes, we're ready to take the next step."

"We're hopeful the next step is a contract and not a shutdown," Capt. Nieuwenhuis added.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc., which is based in St. George, UT and operates as a Delta Connection carrier.

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