EMPLOYEES WITH A UNION
ARE EMPLOYEES WITH A VOICE...

CO – Delta Air Lines
January 16, 2008



Via Facsimile & U. S. Mail
Mr. Richard Anderson
Chief Executive Officer
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
P.O. Box 20706
Atlanta, GA 30354

Dear Mr. Anderson:

This letter was prompted by the growing reports of airline merger discussions. It has been reported that Delta is in discussions with Northwest and United to evaluate a potential merger with one of those carriers.

The IAM, through our Merger Committee, is currently evaluating the various scenarios that could result from your merger discussions. As the certified collective bargaining agent for the largest number of employees at Northwest and United Airlines, we expect to be made aware of any significant progress towards a merger within the limits of the law. In addition we have, as you know, an organizing campaign for the Delta Air Lines Fleet Service employees and it may be appropriate for Delta management to have a dialogue with the appropriate IAM officials.

As I have said previously in Senate testimony when US Airways tried to combine with Delta Air Lines, the Machinists Union is prepared to protect the interests and continued IAM representation of all our members. Our goal in any consolidation includes, but is not limited to, protecting our members’ jobs, seniority, and benefits. Be assured we will continue to work hard to protect our members’ pensions as well. This is especially true since our members have been through some devastating times since 9-11. It appears that only airline shareholders and executives benefited from the recent airline bankruptcy restructuring. The IAM will not support any airline merger where the money was extracted from our members or your employees in a bankruptcy to fund a merger that could negatively impact our members’ or your employees’ careers.

If a proposed merger agreement adversely impacts IAM members and the flying public, the Machinists Union will partner with Congress, other labor organizations and any other entity to protect our members. We are committed to ensuring that no IAM member is adversely affected as a result of any merger or consolidation, even if that means that the merger ultimately fails.

Please feel free to contact me if you wish to have a dialogue regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

Robert Roach, Jr.
GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT

RR/tlm

cc: Buffenbarger
Trans. Dept. Staff
AT PDGCs
IAM Membership
Delta Fleet Service Employees

_______________________________________________________________

CO – Northwest Airlines
January 16, 2008



Via Facsimile & U. S. Mail
Mr. Douglas Steenland
President & CEO
Northwest Airlines, Inc.
2700 Lone Oak Parkway, A1030
Eagan, MN 55121

Dear Mr. Steenland:

This letter was prompted by the growing reports of airline merger discussions. It has been reported that Delta is in discussions with Northwest and United to evaluate a potential merger with one of those carriers.

The IAM, through our Merger Committee, is currently evaluating the various scenarios that could result from your merger discussions. As the certified collective bargaining agent for the largest number of Northwest Airlines employees, we expect to be made aware of any significant progress towards a merger within the limits of the law. It is, therefore, requested that you direct the appropriate management officials to have a dialogue with IAM officials so that we may have a transparent process.

As I have said previously in Senate testimony when US Airways tried to combine with Delta Air Lines, the Machinists Union is prepared to protect the interests and continued IAM representation of all our members. Our goal in any consolidation includes, but is not limited to, protecting our members’ jobs, seniority, and benefits. Be assured we will continue to work hard to protect our members’ pensions as well. This is especially true since our members have been through some devastating times since 9-11. It appears that only Northwest’s shareholders and executives benefited from the airline’s restructuring. The IAM will not support Northwest using the money they extracted from our members in bankruptcy to fund a merger that could negatively impact our members’ careers.

If a proposed merger agreement adversely impacts IAM members and the flying public, the Machinists Union will partner with Congress, other labor organizations and any other entity to protect our members. We are committed to ensuring that no IAM member is adversely affected as a result of any merger or consolidation, even if that means that the merger ultimately fails.

Please have the appropriate officials contact President/Directing General Chairman Gordon.

Sincerely,

Robert Roach, Jr.
GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT

RR/tlm

cc: Buffenbarger
Trans. Dept. Staff
AT PDGCs
Northwest IAM Membership

_______________________________________________________________


CO – United Airlines
January 16, 2008



Via Facsimile & U. S. Mail
Mr. Glenn F. Tilton
Chairman, President & CEO
United Airlines, Inc.
P. O. Box 66100
Chicago, IL 60666

Dear Mr. Tilton:

This letter was prompted by the growing reports of airline merger discussions. It has been reported that Delta is in discussions with Northwest and United to evaluate a potential merger with one of those carriers.

The IAM, through our Merger Committee, is currently evaluating the various scenarios that could result from your merger discussions. As the certified collective bargaining agent for the largest number of United Airlines employees, we expect to be made aware of any significant progress towards a merger within the limits of the law. It is, therefore, requested that you direct the appropriate management officials to have a dialogue with IAM officials so that we may have a transparent process.

As I have said previously in Senate testimony when US Airways tried to combine with Delta Air Lines, the Machinists Union is prepared to protect the interests and continued IAM representation of all our members. Our goal in any consolidation includes, but is not limited to, protecting our members’ jobs, seniority, and benefits. Be assured we will continue to work hard to protect our members’ pensions as well. This is especially true since our members have been through some devastating times since 9-11. It appears that only United’s shareholders and executives benefited from the airline’s restructuring. The IAM will not support United using the money they extracted from our members in bankruptcy to fund a merger that could negatively impact our members’ careers.

If a proposed merger agreement adversely impacts IAM members and the flying public, the Machinists Union will partner with Congress, other labor organizations and any other entity to protect our members. We are committed to ensuring that no IAM member is adversely affected as a result of any merger or consolidation, even if that means that the merger ultimately fails.

Please have the appropriate officials contact President/Directing General Chairman Canale.

Sincerely,

Robert Roach, Jr.
GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT

RR/tlm

cc: Buffenbarger
Trans. Dept. Staff
AT PDGCs
United IAM Membership

________________________________________________________________

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