Pilots picket at Delta shareholders meeting in New York

ajc.com

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Pilots picketed at a Delta Air Lines shareholders meeting in New York on Friday morning, pushing for higher pay in labor contract talks.

The informational picketing by the Air Line Pilots Association at Delta outside the company's annual meeting in the law offices of Cravath, Swaine and Moore comes as the union seeks to reach a new deal this summer.

ajc.com

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

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Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Pilots voted to reject a proposed contract last year over dissatisfaction with pay in the agreement and other issues. The union re-opened negotiations with a proposal for a nearly 40 percent raise over three years.

The union's chairman John Malone said pilots want to see a pay proposal from Delta management. Since the union made its pay proposal in late December, "they have not responded," Malone said.

Delta management said in a written statement: “Delta agrees that a tentative agreement can be reached this summer. Delta remains committed to reaching an industry-leading deal that is also sustainable and market-based. We believe that our pilots are the best in the industry and should continue to be the best paid."

The current Delta pilots contract extended until the end of 2015, making it amendable since the beginning of the year.

The two sides turned to federal mediation in March.