Delta Pilots Told To Clear Out Lockers

Union leaders have told Delta Air Lines pilots to clear out their lockers in anticipation of a possible strike.

The union says a strike is becoming more likely every day because of a dispute over long-term pay and benefit reductions that the bankrupt airline is seeking.

Delta has asked an arbitration panel to void its pilot contract so the airline can impose cuts. Pilots say they'll strike if the contract is rejected. The panel must rule by April 15.

The pilots' union says it's telling members to remove flight gear and personal belongings from their lockers to prevent senior executives from blocking access to the equipment by a lockout.

Delta is the dominant carrier at both the Cincinnati and Dayton airports.

On Tuesday, Delta pilots voted by a wide margin to authorize a strike.

The 94.7 percent vote in favor of authorizing a strike gives union leaders the ability to set a strike date, but they didn't do that immediately and gave no indication exactly when they might act.

The results were announced in a memo to pilots from the chairman of the union's executive committee.

Company spokesman Bruce Hicks said the vote will not affect Delta service.

"Together with our pilots and all of our employees we remain focused on our No. 1 priority, which is taking good care of our customers," Hicks said.

He added that the company is committed to seeking a consensual deal with its pilots.

The Atlanta-based company, which is operating under bankruptcy protection, has said a strike would put the nation's third-largest carrier out of business.

Delta sought approval to reject its contract with its 5,930 pilots so it can impose up to $325 million in long-term pay and benefit cuts, which would include a wage reduction of at least 18 percent.

Delta's pilots previously agreed to $1 billion in annual concessions, including a 32.5 percent wage cut, in a five-year deal in 2004. But Delta, which has imposed pay cuts on other employees, said it needs more from its pilots after filing for bankruptcy protection in September.

So far, there has been little movement toward a consensual long-term deal to replace an interim deal reached in December, though both sides have met at least twice since arbitration hearings in Washington ended March 23.