Seeking new contract, Delta pilots picket ahead of busy Labor Day travel weekend

Delta Airlines pilots are picketing across the country and one of the picket lines was outside Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

It comes ahead of one of the busiest holiday travel weekends — Labor Day — and pilots say they’re trying to send a message to Delta management and the traveling public that it’s time for a new contract. The pilots have been working under a contract negotiated back in 2016, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, International — ALPA — the union that represents many pilots.

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Airlines are feeling intense pressure to improve their performance and pilots are one group that has called out many domestic airlines several times. The public has been critical of delays and cancellations across the industry. Even the Biden administration has been critical of the airlines asking for modifications.

Delta pilots have been on the picket line several times this year. Staffing shortages have put pressure on pilots and other airline employees and Laura Woods, a first officer with Delta and an ALPA spokesperson, said Delta pilots have picked up more overtime this year than in 2018 and 2019 combined.

Woods added that Delta is overscheduling the pilots and there are fewer pilots trying to pick up the slack after the retirements and job losses from the pandemic.

Staffing problems causing disruptions are one reason airlines rolled out changes to try to support consumer rights — American, United, Delta, Southwest, and JetBlue have all shifted some policies. United is offering meal vouchers for flights delayed more than three hours — the previous threshold was four. American is offering hotel rooms for travelers who need to wait overnight — as long as a flight disruption isn’t beyond the airline’s control, like the weather.

Southwest also plans to offer up hotel rooms “upon request if available.”

Woods said that Delta pilots also feel the pain along with the passengers when delays, cancellations and issues arise with flights: “Delta pilots want our passengers to know that we’re with them, we are trying to get them to their destinations. When they’re delayed, we’re delayed and we’re frustrated as well. If we can all send a unified message to Delta management stop overscheduling us. Bring your pilots an industry-leading contract. “

Delta pilots picketed at several airports across America over the protracted contract negotiations. Hundreds of off-duty pilots are scheduled to attend picketing events at the following airports: ATL, DTW, LAX, MSP, JFK, SEA, and SLC.

“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,” said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, chairman of the Delta Master Executive Council (MEC), a unit of the Air Line Pilots Association.

Contract negotiations were paused during the pandemic and resumed in January 2022 under the auspices of the National Mediation Board. “Today is an important milestone for the Delta pilots,” said Ambrosi. “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 picketing by Delta pilots is happening on two of the busiest days to fly for this holiday weekend — today and tomorrow — according to one travel website.

Many travelers will see the picketing. Travel app Hopper predicts close to 13 million Americans will fly this weekend.

KIRO 7 did reach out to Delta for a comment about the picketing but did not hear back. There is a separate note for travelers on the airlines’ attempts at improving customer service, the U.S. Department of Transportation said. It has vowed to launch a website that allows passengers to view their rights as consumers.