Thousands of Delta Pilots Vote to Strike

Almost 15,000 Delta Air Lines pilots voted to authorize a strike after negotiations for a new contract were paused due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The pilots, who are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association union, last negotiated their contracts in 2016. Renegotiation started in April 2019 and the employees and airline had entered the mediation stage in February 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. Renegotiations resumed in January.

"Today, Delta's nearly 15,000 pilots sent a clear message to management that we are willing to go the distance to secure a contract that reflects the value we bring to Delta Air Lines as frontline leaders and long-term stakeholders," Capt. Jason Ambrosi, chairperson of the Delta Master Executive Council, said in a release.

About 96% of union members participated in the strike authorization vote, with about 99% of those participants voting in favor of the matter. "Delta pilots are not on strike, so this authorization vote will not affect our operation for our customers," Delta spokesperson Drake X. Castañeda said in a statement. "ALPA's stated purpose for the vote is simply to gain leverage in our pilot contract negotiations, which continue to progress under the normal process set by the Railway Labor Act and in partnership with the National Mediation Board."

Original article: NPR, Oct. 30, 2022