Delta, Air France, KLM Execs And Unions Call The Agreement
"Historic"
The chief executive officers of Delta Air Lines, Air France
and KLM met Monday with pilot union leaders from their respective
airlines to sign a six-way Joint Venture (JV) Protocol which
recognizes that a cooperative and productive relationship is
essential to the success of the corporations' Joint Venture
Agreement, which was established in May 2009. In signing the
agreement, the leaders committed to mutual understanding and
information sharing between each other concerning all aspects of
the agreement and recognize that the success of the Joint Venture
will provide benefits and opportunities for all parties.
The agreement establishes intent by the parties to provide a
seamless high quality travel experience, enable the further
development of the transatlantic route structure and increase the
profitability of the JV, as well as to strengthen the respective
airline hubs. A primary goal of the agreement is to promote
the success and prosperity of the JV and all parties to this
agreement.
"This is a milestone agreement, and I believe it will serve as
a template for future labor-management engagement in the industry's
globalization arena," said Captain Lee Moak, Chairman of the Delta
Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association.
"Recent joint venture agreements at other properties have alienated
labor by treating labor not as a partner, but as just another cost
to be managed. In today's global marketplace, that is a
formula for disaster. Instead, when the long-term interests
of management and labor are aligned, it makes much more sense to
engage through a professional working relationship for the benefit
of all parties."
The Protocol Agreement sets forth an understanding between the
parties concerning the Joint Venture and establishes intent to
promote the success and prosperity of the Joint Venture. For
example, the agreement establishes a metric to help ensure that
there is a balance of work between the parties. "As pilot
labor, we view it as critically essential that no single
corporation or pilot group benefits at the expense of the other,
and this agreement helps to establish a level of mutual trust and
cooperation between all parties to the agreement" VNV President
Captain Evert van Zwol explained. "International joint
ventures are the next step in our industry's evolution, and
involving labor as a partner at the outset provides for a much
greater probability of long-term success. We are pleased that
the executives of KLM, Air France and Delta recognize this."
In addition to establishing a balance of flying between the
carriers, the agreement calls for the corporations to provide their
respective pilot unions with "detailed historical and projected
operating and financial information on the JV" on a regular basis
as well as periodic meetings "to further develop relationships and
to share information on the status, progress and future initiatives
of the JV, in order to enhance the success of the
JV."
"This agreement is built upon a cornerstone of collaboration
rather than confrontation and on mutual benefit rather than
antagonism" said Air France ALPA President Captain Louis
Jobard. "Our airline executive teams understand that labor is
an important asset in the Joint Venture. This Protocol Agreement
helps to establish a strong and stable foundation for the Joint
Venture moving forward, which is vitally important to its
success."
The Joint Venture Protocol Agreement became effective at its
signing and remains in effect concurrent with the Joint Venture
agreement.