As we approach the end of the first quarter, I want to provide an update on your union’s activities and preview what to expect in the coming months.
Contract 2019 Implementation
To date, we have implemented approximately 200 new contract improvements, which has been no small undertaking. I want to thank my team and our Negotiating Committee for working through the challenges to deliver the new contractual provisions per the implementation schedule.
While implementation has largely gone smoothly, there are several items to which ALPA and management cannot agree on the proper implementation of negotiated provisions. Delta pilots waited years for a new contract, and your union will not stand idly by while our hard-fought-for improvements are not enforced.
After repeated attempts to resolve these issues through direct talks, we have filed MEC grievances and are seeking an expedited resolution to our differences rather than wait for the often-lengthy grievance process. There are currently multiple open grievances related to contract implementation ready to be arbitrated, the first of which will be heard on May 15.
To stay updated on the progress, the Contract Administration page has a grievance tracker that is updated when a new MEC grievance is filed or the status of a pending MEC grievance changes. ALPA’s priority is to ensure the contract that we negotiated is the contract we fly.
Pilot Pay Issues
Delta pilots work for a company that historically has not prioritized pay accuracy or pay transparency. It’s unacceptable that Delta Air Lines, a Fortune 100 Company, cannot provide its pilots with an accurate, easily understood pay statement. Further, when a pilot has a pay dispute, it should not take multiple steps, calls and emails to get paid correctly. My team has elevated this issue to the highest levels of Delta management, and we are all in agreement: pilot pay should be accurate, transparent and timely. While Delta has acknowledged the severity of this issue publicly, it brings us no closer to a concrete solution.
In the longer term, we have been told that Delta’s multi-year Crew Modernization IT project will eventually automate pilot pay and provide robust and transparent pay statements. However, a permanent fix could be years away. The Company is looking for interim solutions, and ALPA has asked for definitive timelines. We will hold management accountable and not tolerate excuses for delay. It is incumbent upon an employer to ensure workers are paid accurately and that the employee is provided with the information necessary to understand every line in their paycheck.
Scheduling Dispute Initiative
Three months ago, I determined it was the appropriate time to change the Scheduling Committee leadership and prioritize eliminating the scheduling report backlog. As recently as last summer, the queue was nearing 5,000 reports with a nearly six-month response time. I found the process to be untenable and undertook an initiative with the new Scheduling team to “sprint to zero” with the goal of attaining real-time processing of scheduling reports. Thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of our new Scheduling Committee leadership and their team, the queue has now dropped to under 200 disputes, and we are on track to providing pilots with real-time responses.
Changes in Flight Operations Management
ALPA is a tireless advocate for Delta pilots regardless of the personnel makeup in Flight Operations management. However, productive relationships facilitate upfront discussions and problem-solving on the pilot group’s behalf. Since last year’s changes in Flight Operations leadership, I have seen a marked improvement in our ability to have these types of conversations.
At our two most recent MEC meetings, your elected union representatives have had the opportunity to directly address the new Flight Operations Senior Vice President, bringing your concerns forward. These candid exchanges have led to pilot pay finally being acknowledged as a major concern. Additionally, for pilots facing discipline, Flight Operations leadership has indicated that Chief Pilots will be more empowered to work with your local council representatives rather than immediately escalating matters to the “fourth floor.”
We will continue to push for management to address issues constructively and without becoming defensive or combative. The Delta pilots are best served when doors are open and an honest assessment of problems – and proposed solutions – can take place.
Looking Ahead
It might be hard to believe, but we are already looking ahead to the lengthy process of preparing for the next round of Section 6 negotiations. At the March MEC meeting, the Negotiating Committee briefed their C2019 after-action report. The roadmap for our success in any negotiations starts with you, the Delta pilots. For example, a resolution passed at a Local Council meeting can help provide direction when the time comes to craft contract openers. Additionally, we use ongoing statistically valid polling to track your sentiments, ensuring we are following the will of the pilot group. Remember, our union is a Pilot-driven organization. It is you, the line pilots, who are at the top of the organization directing me, the MEC, and our committees to do the business of the pilot group.
Stay engaged, stay informed, and make sure your voice is heard.