Delta pilots rally for their airline in face of US Airways bid

<p>Nearly 3,000 pilots, their families and other officials gathered Wednesday for a rally to support keeping Delta Air Lines an independent carrier based in Atlanta.</p><p>Delta Capt. Tom Winecoff said the event was intended send an overwhelming message to US Airways that Atlanta-based Delta opposes a merger.</p><p>"That message is as clear as we can put it: Do not mess with our company," he said.</p><p>Delta employees booed US Airways and its CEO Doug Parker, who was not present.</p><p>Many in the crowd wore buttons saying "Keep Delta My Delta." Others outside the Georgia International Convention Center carried signs with the same message.</p><p>The rally was called to protest Tempe, Ariz.-based US Airways' $8.7 billion bid to take over Delta. US Airways disclosed the hostile takeover Nov. 15.</p><p>Delta's management also opposes the merger.</p><p>A pilot on the stage asked the crowd, "Is this merger going to go through? Do you want to move to Philly?"</p><p>The crowd shouted, "No." US Air has a hub in Philadelphia.</p><p>Some prominent Georgia politicians attended the rally to show the pro-Delta group their unequivocal support.</p><p>U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said, "This proposed deal is a good deal for US Airways; it's a bad deal for Delta, and we're opposed to it."</p><p>U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, also a Georgia Republican, said, "I have seen employees pay the price to keep this airline going. You have earned the right for Delta Airlines to be your airline."</p><p>U.S. Rep. David Scott, a Democrat, likened US Airways to a "vulture in the night." He said US Airways is un-American because it buys foreign planes while Delta flies American-made planes.</p><p>Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Price said a merger would result in at least a 10 percent job reduction for Delta. He did not say where he got the figure.</p><p>"A merger is by no means necessary for Delta," Price said.</p><p>Francisca Taylor, 35, of Atlanta, a ramp agent who deals with luggage for the airline, came to the rally on her day off.</p><p>"We just hope it don't happen, and we know it's not because there's a lot of us here to support Delta," Taylor said.</p><p>Emoni Davis, 30, from Fairburn is a ticket agent.</p><p>"I feel positive about the company and that we are a stand-alone airline, and there will be a lot of positive things in the future" for Delta," Davis said.</p>

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