145 reps call on Delta CEO to stay out of union organization efforts

More than 140 House representatives signed a letter calling on Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian to stay out of union organization efforts Monday.

Delta employees, including flight attendants, fleet service workers and technicians “announced a coordinated campaign to organize a union” in November 2022, lawmakers wrote in the letter. The representatives also said their constituents informed them about “Delta’s history of deploying union-busting tactics, including threatening employees with termination of their benefits, distributing anti-union literature, and hosting an anti-union website.”

“These retaliatory actions are hostile to workers’ rights, and we urge you to commit to implementing a neutrality agreement with regard to these union organizing efforts,” the letter continued. “A neutrality agreement simply consists of an employer agreeing not to engage in pre-election activities that influence workers’ freedom to form a union.”

The letter went on to “strongly urge” Bastian to “adopt a neutrality agreement with regards to any efforts by your employees to unionize and to commit to negotiating in good faith if your employees do choose to form a union.”

The letter comes as flight attendants working for some of the country’s largest airlines picket outside of more than 30 airports in the U.S., U.K. and Guam on Tuesday to “demand fair contracts with significant pay increases,” according to the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) union. 

“We’re working harder than ever with long days, short nights, more time away from family, and in some of the most difficult working conditions of our history,” a webpage on the AFA’s website reads. “Some Flight Attendants haven’t had a raise in five years. Working conditions and pay have been eroded by consistent operational issues and cost of living significantly higher following the pandemic. “

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who signed the Monday letter, referenced the flight attendants’ picketing in a Tuesday post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Today, flight attendants from across the country are gathering at 30+ airports, including at MSP Airport, picketing for fair pay in response to continued corporate greed,” Omar’s post read. “It is time our flight attendants see their fair share of the profits their work creates.”

In an emailed statement, Delta said that they “welcome the dialogue with these members of Congress.”

“Delta firmly believes every employee has the right to choose or reject union representation without interference, and we have policies in place that allow employees to learn more about this important decision,” the statement read. “Delta also has the right and responsibility to ensure our people can make their choice with an informed perspective. All of this is done in full compliance with applicable labor law.”

This story was updated at 12:15 on Feb. 14.