NEW YORK ( Reuters) - The pilots union of Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) is expected to vote as early as Thursday to open initial contract talks over possible wage cuts, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.þþAn agreement on talks would come a little more than a week after Delta outlined plans to cut $2.5 billion in costs by the end of 2005. Delta had asked its pilots for talks in February, but they declined, saying they wanted more specifics.þþThe Journal, citing people close to the union discussions, reported that while the union is expected to approve talks, some members could complicate the discussions by holding out for better terms from the airline.þþSeveral U.S. airlines have been forced to cut costs amid an industry downturn that led both UAL Corp.'s (UALAQ.OB) United Airlines and U.S. Airways to file for bankruptcy. US Airways emerged from bankruptcy protection in March.þþRepresentatives of Delta and its pilots union could not immediately be reached early on Thursday. þþ
Source: NY Times
