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SALT LAKE CITY — Dozens of Delta Air Lines pilots stood and marched outside Salt Lake City International Airport Thursday, holding placards.
Delta pilots congregate across the United States, including at six other airports. “Delta pilots are here today to show their resolve,” said Warrant Officer Reid Donohue, media spokesman for the Delta Master Executive Board.
About 140 Delta pilots have signed up to unionize — on their spare time and on weekends — and fight for a better contract. “It’s time for them to sit down at the table and bring the industry-leading contract that they worked hard to win,” Donohue said.
It’s been 3 1/2 years since Delta pilots last received a raise. However, that is only one of the reasons they are here.
“Retirement, work roles and quality of life that these recent schedules have really driven home,” Donohue said.
That, he said, plus health insurance and retirement, are all reasons Delta pilots are unionizing.
It comes after officials say Delta pilots are flying record overtime with high demand. Combined with poor management, they said, these burdens leave pilots and passengers stranded — or missing flights altogether.
“What they have to do is very simple. They just have to match their flying to the number of pilots they have and the total staff,” Donohue said.
Delta canceled more flights than any other major airline over the Memorial Day weekend.
“Many of us will have 30-plus year careers here at Delta, so when we have cancellations that affect the brand, it hurts us going forward,” Donohue said.
Morgan Durant, a spokesperson for Delta Air Lines, sent the following statement Thursday afternoon:
“This information exercise by some of our part-time pilots will not disrupt our work for our customers. Earlier this year, Delta, ALPA and a representative of the National Mediation Council restarted our mediation contract negotiations, which had been suspended for almost two years due to the pandemic. Our goal remains to continue to provide Delta pilots with an industry-leading comprehensive contract with the best compensation based on pay, retirement, work rules and profit sharing. We are also committed to ensuring that the contract language supports our ability to run a world-class operation, maintain a strong balance sheet and invest in our business for our customers and employees.”
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