Bargaining in good faith

Bargaining in good faith
With an overwhelming strike authorization vote in hand, and a bankruptcy judge's decision pending, Delta Comair flight attendants represented by Teamsters Local 513 today called on the airline to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a good-faith settlement.

Bargaining in good faith
Flight attendants calls on Comair to stop stonewalling and to make a fair settlement offer
WASHINGTON, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- With an overwhelming strike authorization vote in hand, and a bankruptcy judge's decision pending, Delta Comair flight attendants represented by Teamsters Local 513 today called on the airline to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a good-faith settlement.
"Delta Comair put out false press statements this morning, claiming that flight attendants were refusing to bargain," said Local 513 president Connie Slayback. "The truth is, Comair stonewalled in negotiations last week and rejected out of hand our good faith offer to settle this dispute. We are now asking for assurances from Comair that if we do return to the table, the airline will offer a fair settlement that includes job protection for flight attendants."
A federal bankruptcy judge is expected to rule soon on the airline's motion to reject the flight attendants' contract, following hearings held in federal district court in Manhattan in late March. The Cincinnati-based Comair filed for bankruptcy protection along with Delta last year and is seeking $8.9 million in cuts from the flight attendants.
Said Slayback, "Our union has offered proposals that meet Comair's financial demands, but Comair refuses to grant essential job security protections our members need. What's more, flight attendants have already saved Comair millions of dollars by deferring a pay increase. Comair's proposed deal is a no-win deal for flight attendants. Now the airline wants massive concessions that would still leave flight attendants in danger of losing our jobs."
Slayback said that a job action remains possible if the judge grants Comair's motion to abrogate the flight attendants' contract. The flight attendants have voted 93 percent in favor of authorizing a job action.
"Our commitment helped keep this airline flying during tough times," said Slayback. "But if Comair continues to refuse to bargain in good faith, the flying public should be aware that a strike is possible and would disrupt operations at both Comair and Delta. We hope Comair will see the light and initiate some real movement at the bargaining table."
Source: Teamsters Local 513
CONTACT: Galen Munroe of Teamsters Local 513, +1-202-439-7427
Web site: http://www.teamster.org/