On Thursday, more than 1,200 Delta pilots, staff, and passengers participated in seven airport-wide protests calling for higher wages. Meanwhile, flight cancellations continue across the U.S. just days before the holiday weekend.
At major airports in New York City and Los Angeles, Atlanta, Detroit (Minneapolis), Minneapolis, Salt Lake City. Seattle, Seattle and Salt Lake City, Delta employees held signs that read: “Industry-leading Contract NOW.”
Reed Donoghue (a Delta pilot who worked for the company for six-years) stated that Delta had not negotiated a contract with its pilots since 2016.
Donoghue said that the message he sent to Delta management was to tell them it was time for them to negotiate an industry-leading contract. “And, for passengers flying this weekend, be aware that there is a good possibility that at least one of the crew members on their flight, whether they are a flight attendant, or a pilot will work overtime to support the operation.”
Donoghue stated that Delta pilots want better work-life balance, job security, and health insurance. He said that Delta pilots have already logged more overtime hours in 2022 than they did in 2018, 2019 and together.
NPR reported that Delta said Thursday’s demonstrations by its employees would not disrupt its operation for customers.
Delta, ALPA and a representative of the National Mediation Board reopened our mediated contract negotiations that were halted for nearly two years because of the pandemic,” Delta said to NPR in a statement. Our goal is to provide Delta pilots with the industry’s best overall contract that includes the highest compensation in terms of pay, retirement, work rules and profit-sharing. We are also committed to ensuring that the contract language supports our ability run a world-class operation and maintain a strong balancesheet. This will allow us to invest in our business for both our employees and customers.
Thursday’s demonstrations came just days after Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders stated that he had called Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and the U.S. Department of Transportation for action to reduce airline cancellations.
Air travel demand is increasing rapidly and airlines are having difficulty keeping up with it. This may be due to a shortage of pilots. Many airlines were forced to cancel flights when faced with inclement weather.
Lance Wilson, a campaigner for The Worker Agency believes that Delta’s employees “deserve proper compensation.”
Wilson stated that over the phone, NPR’s Wilson said that “over the past six years inflation and the pandemic have made the cost for basic necessities skyrocket.”
Jonathan Franklin also contributed additional reporting.
