Strike-battered Comair to lay off 2,000 Monday

From Patty Davis
CNN Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- With a pilots' strike now in its second month, regional carrier Comair says it will lay off 2,000 employees on Monday.

The airline has been grounded since March 26, when the commuter carrier's pilots walked out over a contract dispute. Comair estimates it is losing as much as $4 million a day and can no longer afford to pay the salaries of all of its employees.

Russ Cason, a spokesman for Delta Air Lines, said the layoffs would affect about half of Comair's 4,000 non-striking employees. Comair is a subsidiary of Delta.

The layoff order comes a day after Comair pilots overwhelmingly rejected a settlement offer crafted by the National Mediation Board. Max Roberts, a spokesman for the pilots' union, told CNN the 1,042-99 vote shows the offer was "deficient and concessionary."

AUDIO Comair Captain Max Roberts gives the union's perspective on the labor talks 298K/27 sec. AIFF or WAV sound   RESOURCES Strike advice: Comair passenger alternatives   MESSAGE BOARD Airline strikes

Roberts said pay is not the main issue separating the two sides. He said the pilots are more concerned about work rules, retirement and the length of their day.

Last week, Delta President Frederick Reid warned Comair's striking pilots that if they rejected the federally mediated offer, the airline would "take whatever actions are necessary to protect our economic interests."

Those actions, he said, could include giving Delta's jets to other Delta Connection airlines or selling them -- which would most likely result in Comair shutting down.

Delta officials said they would have no further comment Sunday.

Roberts accused the company of not negotiating in good faith, characterizing Delta and Comair's actions as union-busting.

"Absolutely that's what they've been trying to do all along," said Roberts. "It's absolutely out of the union-busting manual."

The union said its striking pilots aren't walking the picket line Sunday in observance of Mother's Day.