On Friday, the Master Chairman and Negotiating Committee representing the pilots of Delta Air Lines, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), presented Delta management with its opening proposal to officially begin direct negotiations under the federal Railway Labor Act (RLA).
Delta’s nearly 14,500 pilots have provided the union with feedback on negotiating priorities over the last year. “Delta has recovered to become an investment grade enterprise that’s the envy of the industry in terms of performance, profitability and customer service,” said Capt. Ryan Schnitzler, chairman of the Delta pilots’ Master Executive Council. “Our pilots sacrificed greatly during the bankruptcy era and are seeking to restore the value lost in key areas such as retirement, insurance, compensation, job security and scope,” said Schnitzler.
Although ALPA and Delta have begun direct negotiations, the pilots’ current contract does not become amendable until December 31, 2019. Under the RLA, contracts do not expire. ”Our negotiators are prepared to diligently work with Delta management at every available opportunity to achieve a new agreement,” said Schnitzler. “As management has demonstrated in past negotiations, I am optimistic that the Company will once again be equally focused on reaching a timely, industry-leading contract.”
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing more than 61,000 pilots at 33 airlines in the United States and Canada.
