Mediators propose Comair settlement
Associated Press
CINCINNATI — Federal mediators said yesterday they have proposed a settlement to regional carrier Comair and its pilots, who have been striking since March 26.
Associated Press
"The parties are considering the settlement offer," National Mediation Board spokesman Dan Rainey said.
As a strike by Comair pilots continues and negotiations with other airline unions show little progress, planes back up at airports nationwide. The increasing number of flight delays is prompting a new call for passenger rights laws.
Representatives striking Comair pilots said late yesterday they would submit the proposed contract settlement to union members for a vote but are not endorsing the proposal.
The mediation board's proposal is not the result of a negotiated agreement, said J.C. Lawson, chairman of the Comair pilots' unit of the Air Line Pilots Association.
"As such, this proposal is not endorsed by the pilots' governing body," he said.
Comair spokesman Nick Miller would not discuss the status of the contract negotiations, which broke up Thursday after nine straight days.
Meanwhile, American Airlines said two days of mediated talks with its flight attendants ended without accord.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents 23,000 American attendants, has asked to be released from mediation without success.
American said in a statement that it was disappointed the talks did not result in a tentative agreement, and that it would "continue to explore alternatives for narrowing the few remaining open issues until the talks resume."
No new talks have been scheduled.
The flight attendants have been working without a new contract for more than two years.
At Delta Air Lines, leaders of the pilots union have approved a new contract agreement and will put it to the rank-and-file for a vote beginning May 22.
The vote by the 9,800 Delta pilots will last through June 20.
The walkout by Comair's 1,350 pilots is costing owner Delta Air Lines $3 million to $4 million a day in lost revenue. The company won't disclose actual losses.
