Delta pilots want separate union for Compass

By Kelly Yamanouchi

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

By a narrow margin, Delta Air Lines' pilots union leaders have recommended the creation of a separate union branch to represent pilots at a regional carrier acquired as part of the merger with Northwest Airlines.

Pilots at Virginia-based Compass Airlines had been represented by the pilots union at Northwest. But Delta's pilot union historically has represented only pilots who fly for the main airline.

Air Line Pilots Association leaders at Delta voted 13-12 last week to recommend that the national union set up a separate ALPA unit for Compass, according to a memo by Delta ALPA chairman Lee Moak. If approved by the national union, the restructuring would be effective in October of 2010.

Pilots at Delta subsidiary Comair and former subsidiary Atlantic Southeast Airlines are already represented by separate ALPA units. They petitioned unsuccessfully in 2000 to be merged into the main ALPA unit, arguing it would result in fairer representation. At the time, Comair and ASA pilot leaders said that, on issues that affect pay and career advancement, the larger chapter has more clout and can negotiate terms that hurt the smaller units. One such issue is limits on regional jet use, which large unions have sought in order to hold down the amount of flying done by lower-paid regional pilots.

Compass pilots fly Embraer 175 jets out of Northwest hubs Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis.