THE IMPROBABILITY OF COINCIDENCE

JUSTICE DEPT. O.K.S MERGER
DELTA READY WITH EQUITY DISBURSEMENT AMOUNTS

Isn’t it amazing the luck of Delta’s new management team? Imagine the good fortune of arranging to notify Delta and Northwest employees of how much money they will receive should the merger between the two carriers be given the go ahead and then as if by magic, the Government comes through with the decision almost simultaneously!

Sounds almost arranged doesn’t it? Could it be that this government and big business sleep in the same bed each night? Is it possible that the reckless nature of Wall Street and the corruption that has consumed and depleted the world’s economic resources in the recent past has its roots imbedded in the same greed originated structures?

Who really benefits from this merger when the husks are peeled back and the true nature of high level financial maneuverings are laid open?

We are being given ‘shut-up’ money that doesn’t even begin to cover the huge pay and benefit losses we have incurred over time since buffoons and thieves took over our airline corporate businesses, not to mention the very core of America’s economic foundations.

Who really benefits? Look at how much money Richard Anderson and Ed Bastian will receive after the closing of this merger and then begin to worry about the huge debt burden that this newly combined airline will carry. Who’s going to pay for the 15 billion dollars of underfunded outstanding pensions as well as the 26 billion in combined corporate debt this new mega carrier will incur?

Our world economy is in tatters and the worst of the bad economic news has not even been delivered to our doorsteps yet. The bear market is still running and our 401K’s are in retreat. Money will have to be extracted from somewhere and we as unrepresented or perhaps soon to be unrepresented employees will most certainly bear the burden of making up the monetary difference.

We must make sure that those who are still represented by IAM stay represented and those of us not represented get busy voting in our newly combined union. We must not be lulled into a false sense of satisfaction or pride over this merger. It is not necessarily a worry free event and will have consequences that affect all of us.

The change of government in this country can’t come fast enough and we all hope that new regulations that oversee Wall Street and our financial institutions will hasten a return to fairness and economic stability. In the mean time, we must stay vigilant and strong in our efforts to unionize and protect our future and our stability.

In solidarity, brothers and sisters in the cause.