"Another Opportunity For Executives To Stuff Their Pockets"

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr., issued the following statement Wednesday in response to the Department of Justice's approval of the Northwest Airlines-Delta Air Lines merger.

"After eight years of disastrous economic decisions by the Bush Administration, this comes as no surprise. It is another opportunity for executives to stuff their pockets at the expense of working-class Americans.

"Delta and Northwest management have separately bankrupted their individual airlines. Together, they will have more than $28.8 billion in combined debt and $15.6 billion in unfunded pension liabilities that could be forced onto the American taxpayer if the airline defaults.

"The Machinists Union will fight to ensure that workers at the combined airline will be protected by the guarantees that can only be found in a union contract. The days when Delta could ride roughshod over their employees is coming to an end. Delta is creating the world's largest airline. The Machinists Union will make it the world's largest unionized airline."

The Machinists Union is the largest airline union in North America and represents 12,500 Northwest Airlines ground employees.

FMI: www.goiam.org/mergers, www.delta.com