E14: How A Flight Attendant Union Affects Delta Pilots

On this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta speaks with Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), about AFA’s campaign to help Delta flight attendants organize, how a flight attendant union at Delta would affect Delta pilots, and how Delta pilots can best support their flight attendant colleagues. 

At the DAL MEC Regular Meeting in June, Sara Nelson updated the MEC as to the AFA’s organizing effort at Delta, which is gaining significant momentum. The MEC subsequently unanimously approved a resolution supporting the AFA’s organizing drive for Delta flight attendants. On this episode, Sara discusses how subjects of bargaining for pilots, such as Profit Sharing, are often given to flight attendants to keep their unionization efforts at bay. She also explains how a flight attendants’ union would alleviate pilots from having to negotiate pay and benefits on behalf other employee groups.  The Company has frequently told the Negotiating Committee that Delta must provide the same negotiated benefits, such as Profit Sharing, sought by pilots to flight attendants. A collective bargaining agent for flight attendants would stop this management tactic in its tracks. In addition, Sara explains that with AFA on Delta property, the flight attendants can bargain for themselves, and management can stop attempting to charge pilots for the costs of providing hard-bargained contractual gains to other employee groups.

Sara asks for the Delta pilots’ support by talking to flight attendants about having a union and answering their questions, supporting flight attendants by wearing AFA pins, and helping flight attendants fill out AFA authorization cards.  The Delta MEC supports the AFA and our Delta flight attendants.  Pilots wishing to show their support by wearing AFA pins or helping with authorization cards should contact their LEC representatives.  Please note AFA authorization cards must not be distributed or filled out on Company time or on the airplane; however, doing so during layovers, on crew transportation, at airports, or while on personal time is appropriate.

(Recorded June 9, 2022)