Fellow pilots,
I am writing to provide you important updates after a very busy week. On Tuesday, we returned to the negotiating table after an incredibly successful show of unity and resolve during the June 30 systemwide picketing event. On behalf of the MEC, the Negotiating Committee, and all Delta pilots, I want to thank all of you who participated in our picketing event, both in person and virtually. On Wednesday, Delta announced a very profitable second quarter, earned in large part because of your hard work and professionalism. There is no doubt we have led the Company during its operational recovery and displayed leadership during management’s struggles and shortfalls.
Also on Wednesday, the United MEC decided to delay the closing of ratification on their Tentative Agreement (TA) for up to three months while they seek to make improvements. The UAL MEC took this unprecedented action after receiving considerable feedback from their pilots. This further reinforces that professional pilots across the industry will not accept agreements that do not reflect the significant contributions of their pilots. Delta management must recognize this fact and acknowledge that we have earned an industry-leading contract. Our unity and resolve sends a clear message - we will not accept anything less.
Negotiations Update
This week our Negotiating Committee met with the Company to resume negotiations on the remaining open sections of our contract. We have applied pressure to Delta management and our display of unity has been noticed.
While some progress was made on important issues, considerable work remains, and the pace continues to be unacceptably slow. Sizeable disagreement remains in Section 23 - Scheduling. With Delta’s current staffing issues, Management is predictably drawing from their old, tired playbook by seeking to impose further productivity improvements, even as our pilots’ quality of life is at all-time lows. These ill-conceived proposals are just not appropriate to ask of our pilots, who have been instrumental in helping Delta recover from the pandemic and return to solid profitability. We know how hard you are working, again stepping up and setting a GS record in June, exceeding the June 2019 GS count with even fewer pilots. To be clear, we will not entertain concessions or forced productivity that further erodes our quality of life.
The remaining open sections contain vital improvements being sought in compensation, retirement and vacation. Delta is profitable today and plans for ambitious future growth, which will require motivated pilots working under a vastly improved PWA. Management must no longer drag their feet. If management truly values Delta pilots and desires to continue to attract the best pilots to grow the Delta brand, they must deliver an industry-leading contract; any further delay on management’s part only increases the retro payment that will be due to the Delta pilots.
Delta Q2 Earnings
Delta Air Lines released its second quarter earnings on Wednesday. The results prove that Delta pilots have earned the right to demand that Management shows up to the negotiating table with a serious proposal to close these negotiations, which have been going on for far too long. Because of your hard work and sacrifice, Delta remains the industry-leader and is poised to become more profitable than we have ever been before. During the earnings call, several financial analysts inquired about the status of our contract negotiations. Management responded that an “industry-leading contract is forthcoming very soon.” Rest assured, we will hold them to their word. We will continue to pressure management to get serious at the negotiating table.
Click here for a summary of Delta’s Q2 earnings.
Thank you for your unity and solidarity as we press on in contract negotiations. Wear your green lanyard, arriving soon to your ALPA address of record. Further, your elected union representatives unanimously approved the slogan "hats off to a new contract” and encourage you to join us by letting your hat ride on your bag until we achieve our goal: a truly industry-leading contract that sets Delta pilots apart. I assure you that the Delta MEC, our Negotiating Committee, and I will not back down until we have delivered that leading contract.
In unity,
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