Delta Reaches Seniority Integration, Union Representation Milestones

March 17, 2009
Additional seniority integration recommendations made; third workgroup resolves representation issues.

ATLANTA -- Delta Air Lines issued the following memo from Mike Campbell, executive vice president of Human Resources and Labor Relations, to Delta colleagues worldwide. The memo provides employees an update on seniority integration and union representation.

"During the last few weeks, we reached two significant merger milestones. First, the remaining seniority integration committees representing pre-merger Delta employees in the larger workgroups presented their recommendations for fair and equitable seniority integration methods for the combined workgroups. Second, we resolved representation issues for our planners, trainers, and reliability and technical analysts in our Technical Operations group.

"So where do we now stand? Seniority integration has already been resolved for pilots, dispatchers, AMTs, and meteorologists. Several weeks ago, the pre-merger Delta flight attendant seniority committee presented its position on a fair and equitable integration for flight attendants. If agreed to by representatives of the Northwest flight attendants and accepted by the company that would cover the combined flight attendant workgroup.

"The recommendations made last week cover ACS/Cargo, Reservation Sales and TechOps Stores employees. And if these recommendations were to be agreed to by representatives of pre-merger Northwest employees and accepted by the company, we would have seniority integration issues resolved for the vast majority of our combined employee groups.

"In addition, last week pre-merger Northwest training representatives, production planners, line maintenance planners, technical writers, reliability analysts and technical analysts, represented by the Aircraft Technical Support Association (ATSA), voted to approve a transition plan. The transition plan provides that they will now file a notice with the National Mediation Board (NMB) requesting that the NMB terminate their certification.

"I want to extend my thanks and applaud the efforts of all the seniority integration teams that have worked to resolve seniority integration issues from both Delta and Northwest.

"I also commend ATSA for working with us to resolve representation for these employees. We are now able to align their pay, benefits and work rules with similarly situated salaried and merit-based employees of Delta.

"Thank you for all you continue to do to make Delta a successful global airline and a great place to work."