Delta, pilots seek federal mediation in contract talks

Delta Air Lines and its pilots, represented by the Air Lines Pilots Association, are seeking US federal govt mediation in their labour negotiations. The airline and ALPA’s Delta master executive council (MEC) have jointly filed with the US National Mediation Board for mediation in collective bargaining contract talks. Though the ALPA Delta MEC said that NMB “will assume control of the process and a federal mediator will take control of the calendar and oversee negotiations,” it also said that it and Delta “have committed to continue meeting on a regular basis, even without the presence of the mediator.” The Delta MEC endorsed a tentative labour deal with Delta management in June 2015 and sent it to the airline’s nearly 13,000 pilots for a ratification vote, but the rank-and-file flight deck crew rejected it by a 65%-35% vote in July. <br/>