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Delta strike may have little impact on air travel
The decision by Delta Air Lines pilots to authorize a strike should cause no immediate disruptions and could possibly have very little impact, based on past experience, according to experts.
At least three other airline and labor shutdowns that seemed likely in the past few years have led to last-minute agreements.
“We’ve learned over the years to, indeed, take them in stride,” travel agent Kaelin Ryback of the Travel Authority told the Louisville Courier-Journal.
“It’s gotten to the point where there are so few strikes that lasted any length of time that people just assume a consensus will be reached,” she added.
The arbitration panel currently evaluating whether Delta can be authorized to jettison its current pilots union contract has to reach a decision by 15 April, so its unlikely any action will be taken before then.
The pilots earlier voted 94.7% in favor of authorizing a strike. Union leaders were conferring Wednesday on a possible strike date.
Management at Delta, the nation’s second largest carrier, has sought approval to reject its contract with the 5,930 pilots. Management wants to impose up to $325 million in long-term pay and benefits cuts, including a pilot wage reduction of at least 18%.
Both sides have held talks, but reached no agreement so far.
Delta’s management has said the bankrupt airline might not survive more than 24 hours if there’s a strike.
The likelihood of that happening, however was seen by many experts as dubious.
Striking pilots would have few alternatives at a time where there are few jobs available at other airlines.
“If our contract is rejected, we will strike,” said Lee Moak, who heads up the Delta chapter of the pilots union.
Report by David Wilkening
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