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If you have a Delta Air Lines flight and see a bunch of pilots protesting at an airport, here’s what’s going on.
Delta Pilots Picketing on Thursday, June 30
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) announced earlier this week that “hundreds of its off-duty pilots are scheduled” to stage picket lines at several Delta hubs on Thursday, June 30.
The key term here is “off-duty.” The pilots aren’t on strike. (Well, not yet, at least. More on that in a minute.)
You can expect to see them at:
- Atlanta (ATL)
- Detroit (DTW)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Minneapolis (MSP)
- New York-Kennedy (JFK)
- Seattle (SEA)
- Salt Lake City (SLC)
(What? No love for Boston? I thought Boston was Delta’s latest and greatest new hub!)
In a statement posted on ALPA’s website, Delta Captain Jason Abrosi said, “We’re now going into the Independence Day Holiday weekend and are concerned that our customers’ plans will be disrupted once again.”
And here’s what I find interesting: Delta yesterday issued a systemwide travel advisory for July 1-4 because the airline anticipates “to carry customer volumes over the weekend not seen since before the pandemic.” I applauded Delta for planning ahead. But I feel the move foreshadows ugly things to come during the next several days (and I hope I’m wrong).
Why?
ALPA points out “Delta cancelled more flights than any other major airline over the Memorial Day weekend.” (Pop culture-wise, sports broadcasting personalities Erin Andrews and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo used their platforms and audiences to publicly unload on Delta.)
Airlines and holiday weekends haven’t exactly enjoyed a cushy relationship since, well, ever. And it’s only gotten worse.
Plus, the union notes it “took an unprecedented step in passing a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the management teams of Flight Operations, Crew Resources, and Flight Training & Standards for the scheduling issues that continue to plague both customers and pilots.”
So What’s Stuck in the Pilots’ Craws?
Why are the pilots upset? What are their grievances? (It’s not even Festivus!)
Captain Abrosi said:
Delta pilots were front-line leaders during COVID and the recovery. We helped our airline recover by flying record amounts of overtime and spending more time away from our families than ever before to get our customers safely to their destinations. It’s time for management to recognize our contributions. If Delta can invest billions in foreign airlines and its subsidiaries, it must invest similarly in its pilots.
…
It’s been two-and-a-half-years since our contract became amendable and three-and-a-half years since the Delta pilots last had a pay raise. Meanwhile, our quality of life has eroded due to management’s unwillingness to schedule the airline properly.
…
The perfect storm is occurring. Demand is back and pilots are flying record amounts of overtime but are still seeing our customers being stranded and their holiday plans ruined. Unfortunately, these problems have not led to any greater urgency from management to resolve our issues at the negotiating table.
Will Delta Pilots Strike?
Gosh, I hope not.
But in its statement, ALPA said, “The union recently opened a Strike Center at its Atlanta office to begin preparing the Delta pilots for scenarios as permitted under the Railway Labor Act.”
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
Final Approach
Don’t think that Delta Air Lines pilots are striking if you see them at an airport on Thursday, June 30. They are protesting their work conditions and pay.
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Sad to see Delta falling apart! It will be a miracle if I make back from London next week. Sigh.
Hmmmm why are they picketing?!! So that means there are pilots!! Because of them airlines are in turmoil with high prices!!! It just doesnt make sense!!’ Idiots!!!!
Some of the regionals not paying their pilots enough also doesn’t help and, thus, there’s a pilot shortage.
I am a Delta Pilot and I can tell you All of the picketing pilots are off duty, they are not available to fly you anywhere. When APLA says pilots are flying record amounts of overtime , that means a pilot has flown their full schedule and then VOLUNTEERED to fly extra trips to help out. In fact that’s what I’m doing right now, and for the next 2 days. It’s means 20+ days away from my family a month instead of the normal 12-16.
Thank you, Doc!
Delta used to go to great lengths to avoid admitting it cancelled a flight. Sounds like that has has changed. It is the same old same old as far as airline labor relations.
Shame on them..the Unions will destroy it all look at Amazon, Starbucks,,,,,,SAD
Really? It’s the fault of UNIONS? How about decent working conditions and a livable wage for everyone who works. I recommend that you cook at home, you don’t want food from underpaid servers with that attitude.
I hope I dont get bumped on july 7 to jfk… Dear g-d
Come back and let us know what happens!
Will do !!!!
Major airlines won’t be allowed to strike in this country. POTUS has the option to invoke a PEB (presidential emergency board) to block a strike in the interest of interstate commerce. No matter what party is in power, a president would never let a major airline suffer a strike. It would be political and financial suicide.