Delta CEO Pens Open Letter Amid Push to Unionize Airline

A Delta airlines plane is seen at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles on Jan. 11, 2023. Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

CEO of Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian, has penned an open letter to business, government, and community leaders explaining the importance of financial well-being and the steps the company takes to financially support its employees. Two days earlier, members of the House had attempted to persuade him to stay neutral amid ongoing union talks at the airline.

Last November, a national scale effort was undertaken by three unions, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to unionize over 50,000 of Delta’s roughly 95,000 workers.

In a Feb. 14 letter, Delta’s CEO outlined the company focus on helping its employees solve the problem of financial insecurity through its “profit-sharing arrangement” that compensates workers beyond their standard pay packet. According to Mr. Bastian, the initiative for front-line workers paid out $1.4 billion this year, and over $11 billion since the program began in 2007. According to Delta, the company generated $54.7 billion in revenue for 2023—a full 20 percent higher than in 2022.

“Every eligible Delta employee will receive a check that, this year, totals more than 10 percent of their annual salary,” Mr. Bastian said.

“It’s something we do every year on Valentine’s Day to demonstrate our gratitude and love for our people, who serve our customers and ensure their safety and comfort every day.”

Mr. Bastian also highlighted an emergency savings program, which encourages participating Delta employees to save and earn a $1,000 contribution from Delta toward a “rainy day account,” and access individualized coaching and tools from economic education provider Operation HOPE and investment firm Fidelity.

“At Delta, our No. 1 job is taking care of our people—our success flows from this simple concept,” he said.

“Sharing profits with our people, along with providing tools and education to help manage and grow their wealth, is part of our responsibility as a values-led organization,” Mr. Bastian added.

According to employment website Indeed, the average pay for Delta Air Lines employees ranges from roughly $64,000 annually for a flight attendant, $153,000 for a pilot, and $365,000 for a managing director. And Mr. Bastian is the highest-paid U.S. airline CEO; last year, his compensation package was $12.4 million.

Lawmakers Urge Bastian to Stay Neutral During Negotiations

Over 140 members of the House recently urged Mr. Bastian to adopt a neutrality agreement and stay out of the ongoing union organization talks. A neutrality agreement is when an employer stays neutral when workers start trying to organize a union and takes no position, for or against.

“We believe a neutrality agreement is the bare minimum standard that Delta should meet in respecting workers’ rights and to comply with the Railway Labor Act’s directive to not interfere, influence, or coerce its employees in their choice of representative,” the letter from Congress said.

According to the members of the House, constituents have informed them about Delta’s history of deploying union-busting tactics, including threatening employees with the termination of their benefits and distributing anti-union literature.

“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 members of Congress said.

“All workers should have the free and fair choice to join a union, as is required by law. We strongly urge you 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.”