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John Daley Reporting"Unfortunately, it's a game of chicken, you know and it will never stop until we draw the line."
Delta pilots draw a line in the sand, authorizing union leaders to strike rather than accept the air carrier's attempt to void their contracts. In a long-running battle with its employers, Delta pilots have voted to approve a potential strike.
The move escalates an already tense showdown with the airline's precarious future at stake. The pilots did not vote to strike today, but today's vote puts them one step closer. And all sides agree a strike would be disastrous for Delta.
Delta is the nation's third largest carrier, but it's operating under bankruptcy protection and wants to void the contracts of its pilots to help it survive, something pilots are fighting.
Valerie Walker is a retired Delta pilot with a pension who flew for the airline for more than 30 years. She says pilots don't want the airline to go under, but they've already been making significant pay concessions, to the tune of a billion dollars a year.
Valerie Walker, Retired Delta Pilot: "It will never stop until we draw the line, and if you're going to say, okay we give approval to go on strike then you are willing to go on strike. And if management doesn't move and negotiate in good faith, we're going to have to."
One Utah economist says fuel costs have hit the industry hard. The two sides are about $150 million apart in negotiations, but he predicts big trouble if they can't find middle ground.
Jeff Thredgold, Zions Bank Economic Consultant: "If the pilots were to go on strike they could in fact contribute to the demise of the airline. And they're burning their own fingers. But it's kind of posturing on both sides."
The company too has said a strike would put it out of business. Meantime, a Delta spokesman says the vote will not affect Delta service and that the company is committed to seeking a deal with pilots.
This former pilot says she hopes cooler minds prevail.
Valerie Walker, Retired Delta Pilot: "I think there's a very good chance there will be, but I also think there's a little bit better chance in the final hour everyone will say, 'This ridiculous, let's see what we can do putting our heads together.'"
An arbitration panel must decide by April 15 whether to void the pilot's contract. The union has said it will strike if its contract is rejected.
