Your Union’s core competencies, and this Administration’s priorities, lie in enforcement of our PWA and negotiating improvements to pay, working conditions and benefits. At times, opportunities to negotiate outside of Section 6 arise. An engaged union is ready to take advantage of these situations and create additional value for our pilot group. For instance, in the aftermath of the July IT meltdown, Flight Operations met with our Negotiating Committee and subject matter experts to explore ways to provide better tools for pilots to navigate the challenges of an IROP’s impact on the operation. Additionally, we are engaged in negotiations regarding safety-related programs (FSAG, LOSA), pay modernization (Jetstream Access), and retirement (NQDC). We will provide further updates as negotiations continue.

This MEC has filed a record number of grievances since the beginning of our term. Many are contract implementation related but several are the result of the Company blatantly ignoring our hard-fought contract. As a result, we have embraced an approach to expedite the resolution of disputes through grievance mediation. The grievance process under the RLA is often lengthy, laborious, and costly for all parties. It relies upon an arbitrator, who may split an award, or in some cases, issue an outcome where neither party benefits. We have found that grievance mediation provides an accelerated path forward that allows us to better control the outcome.

During recent grievance mediation sessions, we have been able to negotiate settlements for several MEC grievances. The results have provided significant gains for our pilot group. And, in some cases, these settlements resulted in gains we sought but were unable to achieve in Contract 2019. Further, many of the gains would never be awarded in a traditional five-member System Board of Adjustment as the arbitrator’s authority in awarding a remedy is more limited than what the parties can agree to in a settlement. If you have not already, I encourage you to review Contract Awareness Bulletin 24-04 and also monitor open MEC grievances on the docket via the Grievance Log on the Contract Administration Committee’s webpage.

I thank our Contract Administration, Negotiating Committee, professional staff, and committee subject matter experts. They have done an exceptional job of successfully arguing our cases in front of Flight Operations management. Without driven ALPA pilot volunteers and our dedicated professional staff, these wins would not be possible. Note that upcoming mediation sessions are scheduled for December 2024 and March 2025 where several MEC grievances will be discussed.

Looking Ahead
The biennial ALPA Board of Directors (BOD) meeting takes place the week of October 28 in Chicago, IL. The BOD, ALPA’s highest governing body, is comprised of the elected representatives from each airline. We gather every two years to review national policies and consider policy changes based on input from the Association’s 78,000 members in the U.S. and Canada. Also, the Delta MEC will elect a Group A Delta Executive Vice President (EVP) for a two-year term.

This BOD will be considering several changes to the ALPA Constitution and Bylaws that originated as resolutions from Delta local executive councils, a direct result of your feedback. They include the following:

• Extension of active member benefits for pilots on Military Leave and Personal Leaves of Absence from 90 to 180 days
• Ability for a two- or three-status council to add an additional representative for each status if there are more than 2,000 active members

The Delta MEC will hold its last regular meeting of the year in Atlanta the week of November 18. In addition to receiving updates from MEC committees and working through local council resolutions, your elected reps will also elect the next team of MEC officers whose terms begin on January 1, 2025. The new administration will continue the important work of producing significant gains for the pilot group and preparing for the next round of Section 6 negotiations. Contract openers will be exchanged in April 2026 with a contract amendable date of December 31, 2026.

Elections for Councils 20 (DTW), 44 (ATL) and 81 (SLC) are underway. I strongly encourage all constituents in those councils to cast your vote. Historically, the participation rate is low –  under 50% of voting members cast a ballot. This is your chance to effect change and ensure your voice is heard. Learn about the candidates by reaching out and asking questions. Read the campaign letters and bottom line - vote! Your participation in your union’s democratic process is essential to maintain the integrity of a pilot-driven organization. Remember, it is your elected representatives who make critical decisions on your behalf, whether it is providing direction in contract negotiations or settling an MEC grievance.

In closing, I want to acknowledge the recent natural disasters that have affected many of our fellow pilots and their families. Devasting wildfires on the west coast and the extensive destruction from Hurricane Helene have wreaked catastrophic damage and have left our communities reeling. And, as you read this letter, Hurricane Milton now barrels toward Florida, potentially affecting even more pilots.

I have witnessed the best of our pilot group in these difficult situations. Delta pilots are stepping up and going above and beyond to help their fellow employees, neighbors and complete strangers navigate the aftermath of these challenges. ALPA has both financial and peer support resources available for pilots in need. Please reach out to our Delta Pilot Network committee at DPN@alpa.org for more information regarding financial resources. Also, the Pilot Assistance Network (PAN) 1-888-4-DAL-PAN, is staffed with Delta pilots to help fellow pilots handle stressful situations. All calls are strictly confidential.