ATLANTA (AP) — Moving a step closer to a possible strike, pilots at Delta Air Lines on Thursday rejected binding arbitration of their contract negotiations with the nation's third-largest carrier.
The move begins a 30-day "cooling-off" period, after which the pilots could strike. However, President Bush has indicated that he will move to block labor disruptions at airlines this year with presidential emergency boards.
The pilots' decision, which was widely expected, came at the start of a two-day meeting being held in Atlanta by the Delta branch of the Air Line Pilots Association.