Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said in a letter to members of Congress on Wednesday that more than 100 House members called on the airline to remain neutral in union negotiations in a separate letter. Two days later, he spoke about the steps the company had taken to support its employees. .
Bastian highlighted a $1.4 billion profit-sharing agreement for front-line workers and an emergency savings program that allows participating employees to “earn $1,000 from Delta for a rainy day fund.”
“At Delta Air Lines, taking care of our employees is our number one job, and our success stems from this simple concept. Sharing profits with our employees means managing their wealth. This is part of our responsibility as a values-driven organization, along with providing the tools and education to support growth and expansion,” Bastian said in the letter.
A group of 145 members of the House of Representatives signed a letter Monday asking Bastian not to participate in union organizing negotiations, saying their constituents had “not threatened Delta Air Lines with threatening workers with benefits cuts.” “They have a history of using union-busting tactics, including distributing anti-government literature and distributing anti-government literature.” – Hosts trade union literature, and anti-union websites. ”
“These acts of retaliation are hostile to worker rights, and we urge you to commit to implementing neutrality agreements regarding these union organizing efforts,” the letter continued. “A neutrality agreement simply consists of an employer agreeing not to participate in pre-election activities that affect workers’ freedom to unionize.”
The letter also asks Bastian to “adopt a neutrality agreement regarding unionization efforts by your employees and commit to bargaining in good faith should your employees choose to unionize.” He “strongly requested” them to do so.
The letter comes as flight attendants from some of the country’s largest airlines picketed outside more than 30 airports in the U.S., U.K. and Guam on Tuesday, demanding “substantial pay increases,” according to the Flight Attendants Association union. The agreement arrived amid calls for “a fair contract with a fair contract.”
Delta Air Lines said in an emailed statement that it “welcomes dialogue with these members of Congress.”
“Delta strongly believes that all employees have the right to choose or refuse union representation without interference, and we have implemented policies that allow employees to learn more about this important decision. “We are doing so,” the statement reads.
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