By Doug Cunningham

The Airline Pilots Association and Delta Airlines have reached a tentative labor agreement. Delta was pushing for at least $300 million more in cuts from the pilot’s union, even though the pilots gave a 32.5 percent pay cut 15 months ago.

Delta is in bankruptcy and an independent arbitrator was to make a decision by April 15 on whether or not to allow Delta to throw out the union contracts.

No details on this tentative agreement have bee released, but it appears to have averted a strike against Delta. Pilots must still vote on whether to ratify the tentative agreement. The bankruptcy court would also have to approve the deal.

This tentative agreement means the independent arbitrator will not issue a decision until the result of the pilots ratification vote is known. If the pilots reject the tentative agreement, then the arbitrator could issue a ruling on Delta’s request to throw out its contracts.

The Flight attendants’ union is still in negotiations with Comair, Delta’s wholly owned subsidiary. A bankruptcy judge in that case is expected to rule Monday on whether to destroy the union’s contracts with Comair. The company wants the flight attendants to give up another $8.9 million in concessions.