Minneapolis —- Pilots at Northwest Airlines say they'll meet with Delta pilots for two days next week to begin working out a joint contract.

The two pilot groups tried but failed to work out their differences before last month, when the two airlines announced their plans to join together.

The pilots failed to put together their seniority lists. Those seniority rankings are important to pilots because they determine who gets desirable planes and schedules.

A hot-line message from the Northwest pilots union says the meeting next week will focus on a joint contract, with seniority issues to come later.

Northwest pilots say they oppose the deal with Delta right now because they were left out. Delta pilots support it. The airlines don't need pilot permission to join.