Delta, Northwest Close Merger

"The Machinists Union will fight to ensure that workers at the combined airline will be protected by the guarantees that can be found in a union contract," IAM General Vice President Robert Roach said Wednesday in a prepared statement. "The days when Delta could ride roughshod over their employees is coming to an end."

Roach called the deal "another opportunity for executives to stuff their pockets at the expense of working-class Americans" and noted that it was preceded by bankruptcies at both carriers.

Nevertheless, it became clear at a series of four congressional hearings, which took place in the month after the merger plans were announced, that opposition beyond the two unions was limited.

Additionally, the deal had the strong support of the Delta pilots union, which a year earlier had been a principal opponent of a failed plan by US Airways(LCC Quote) to take over Delta.