IAM Delta Flight Attendants

These days, every conversation starts and ends with a uniform critique.

While change can be hard enough, many Delta Flight Attendants have also paid out of their own pockets to get new pieces altered.

On the morning of June 28, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Greenwich Village. Law enforcement justified the raid because Stonewall was serving liquor without a license, but it wasn’t unusual for police to target gay clubs. A woman being thrown into a police wagon shouted to the crowd outside, “Why don’t you guys do something?”

Her call to action began the Stonewall Riots, now remembered each year through pride celebrations around the world.

It started with a tickle in the throat. Probably an allergic reaction, something that would go away when you got to the hotel. You snorted Flonase®, slept a solid six of your pathetic eight-and-a-half behind the door, and woke up feeling worse.

But you need to get home, maintain 100 hours a month for the $1,000 summer “thank you,” so you head down for pick up, sneeze into your Passport Plum elbow, and apologize to your crew, who all start avoiding you like the plague since maybe that’s what it is.

"In honor of International Flight Attendants Day, the IAM would like to thank all flight attendants today and every day for the safety, service and comfort they provide that, all too often, goes unappreciated. Their days are long and sometimes overwhelming with extended periods away from their family and friends, but their attention to detail and dedication to their jobs doesn’t go unnoticed."

Sito Pantoja, General Vice President

#claimyourwings #pintheplum

I AM ready for change.

I AM ready to have a voice and to be able to enjoy my job again.

Honesty, integrity, respect, perseverance, servant leadership. Delta’s core values are supposed to be what separates us from the competition.

Upper management breaks these “rules of the road” daily.

Delta Fight Attendant and IAM Activist Alex Jenkins recently visited IAM Headquarters to make a video in support of the IAM-Delta Flight Attendant campaign. Alex spoke passionately about a number of issues Delta Flight Attendants face daily, and why they need IAM union representation.

In addition to shooting the video, Alex was given a tour of headquarters, visiting different departments and seeing firsthand the various resources the IAM has to offer.

When we’re not in charge of our work rules, when we don’t truly have a voice in “improvements,” we see benefits and compensation manipulated to confuse us.

I want the IAM so we can push OUR needs forward.

I want someone whose vested interest is in me, as a flight attendant, and not just in numbers or the bottom line.

I have been abused and threatened by management, “If you try to challenge this, you’ll make things much worse for yourself.”

I want a union so Delta Flight Attendants have black and white work rules that are set in stone.

We are one of the industry’s leading airlines, but are treated like a low cost carrier.

Many new hire flight attendants are asking about defined work-rules and they are being told that having too many published work rules can hurt flight attendants. Wrong.

Clearly defined work-rules provide ALL flight attendants, whether newly hired or our most senior colleagues, with certainty, fair treatment and accountability from management. Without a legally binding contract, we have no work-rules. The truth is, management can change or modify any “rule” or benefit we currently have without our agreement and we have absolutely no recourse.

No raise.

No $1,000 tax relief like AA, JetBlue, SWA and the Alaska Air Group.

I want a strong union with us every step of the way, holding the company accountable through a legally binding agreement. I want management to actually follow the "rules of the road" every day, every schedule assigned, every sick call, every OJI, every flight, every IROP, for every flight attendant.

I love who I work for and I wouldn't want to fly for any other airline. God’s honest truth. But when I come to work, I want to know that what’s written in black and white STAYS black and white. And, that there's someone watching to make sure it does.

Most of us can’t imagine what it would be like to lose the job we love.

But what if the unthinkable happens? What if we are unjustly accused, disciplined or terminated? Who really has our back?

Today is International Civil Aviation Day, which is observed annually on December 7. The purpose of the day is to recognize the importance of aviation, especially international air travel, to the social and economic development of the world. It also helps demonstrate the role the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has in promoting safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport.

“International Civil Aviation Day celebrates the vital role the airline industry has around the world,” says Transportation General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “It is also a day that helps raise awareness of the importance of safety for all airline workers around the world.”

After a years’ long effort, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) today filed for a representation election with the National Mediation Board (NMB) for 5,000 JetBlue Flight Attendants.

“The IAM congratulates the JetBlue Flight Attendants for pursuing their right to take control of their future,” said Transportation GVP Sito Pantoja. “I now encourage you to take the next step and vote yes for our AFL-CIO sister union.”

We should not have to standby until 2019, or longer, for our next pay increase during the most profitable period in Delta’s history.

The IAM Delta campaign today renewed its call for Delta management to announce the 2018 wage increase for flight attendants. In past years, wage increases have been announced much earlier in the year and unfortunately it appears that Delta management is considering no wage increase for 2018.

Delta CEO, Ed Bastian, signaled publicly—while advocating for the Trump Administration’s corporate tax cut plan—that if the massive corporate tax cuts become law, then Delta will have more to give its employees. So, not only do we have to depend on the “good will” of Delta management to attain the wage increases we deserve, we must now also depend on the passage of the corporate tax cut to receive a wage increase. That’s just wrong and devalues the work we do to make Delta the leading US carrier.

Delta’s unionized pilots and dispatchers, however, already have their 2018 wage increase guaranteed in their contract, as do flight attendants and other unionized ground staff at the other major carriers—American, United, Southwest, Alaska, Hawaiian—with IAM members at these respective carriers leading the way. These workers do not have to wait and wonder whether they will receive pay, benefit and work rule enhancements. Their contracts guarantee them.

IAM Delta calls on Delta management to immediately increase flight attendant wage rates to the top of the industry, at every step, by at least 14 percent to surpass Southwest flight attendants. We deserve at least that, and we will negotiate more with the IAM.

Sign or renew your a-card now, so we can gain the right to vote for IAM representation, win and negotiate the industry-best contract that we very much deserve.

If you don’t have an a-card handy, please click the link and fill-out the online form and IAM Delta will get one out to you. Thanks!

www.iamdelta.net/acard/

#claimyourwings

Delta failed to accommodate an employee’s disability, ultimately violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and terminating the employee.

The employee was awarded nearly $1m in damages.

Delta Air Lines today announced $1.2 billion in net income on revenue of $11 billion. Delta’s passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased by 1.9 percent and management expects PRASM to increase next quarter.

But management is setting the stage for another inadequate wage increase for 2018, warning of higher fuel costs pressuring profit margins, and claiming ongoing impacts from natural disasters.

Almost 100 IAM-Delta Flight Attendant activists met this week in MSP and DTW to discuss plans and specific strategies to obtain the remaining amount of IAM election authorization cards (a-cards) to file for a representation election.

“The meetings were very well attended and we got a lot of work done,” said Delta Flight Attendant and MSP Base Lead Tammy Rustad. “I call on all Delta Flight Attendants, from every base, who want the right to vote to form a union to get their cards in. The time is now.”

The IAM-Delta campaign has continually stated that any cut to the Delta Flight Attendants profit sharing plan was wrong. Since 2013, Delta has cut our profit sharing plan, transferring hundreds of millions of dollars from us to Delta. The reason Delta could cut our plan is because it isn’t protected by a legally binding contract.

Delta Air Lines today announced that effective October 1, 2017 they will return to one common profit sharing plan for all Delta employees, which will increase our profit sharing pool. We look forward to Delta releasing the details of our new plan.

General Vice President Sito Pantoja today issued the following statement on the anniversary of 9/11:

Sisters and Brothers, today marks the sixteenth anniversary of the heinous terrorist attacks on our country. Each year, we honor and pay tribute to the heroes we lost on that fateful day. We respectfully recall those who were most directly affected by this tragedy—those who were injured, perished or lost loved ones. We remember the selfless first responders—firefighters, police, emergency workers, and other courageous people—who risked, and many times, lost their lives in their brave efforts to save others. Let us not forget the cabin crew members, the aviation industry’s frontline, who also lost their lives.

You know what’s so totally random? Pretty much everything around here.

General Vice President Sito Pantoja issued the following statement regarding Hurricane Harvey:

“The IAM stands with our sisters and brothers in Texas and Louisiana who are suffering from the catastrophic flooding caused by this once in a lifetime hurricane. The IAM will mobilize disaster relief efforts and employee assistance to aid IAM members in need and work with IAM-represented employers in the region to ensure that all employees are treated fairly during this event. Our hearts go out to those who have lost family members, friends and property due this the storm and we will be right by your side every step of the way.”

Delta executives promised transparency in a new pay system.

As early as July 14th, ALPA pilots alerted union representatives to serious errors in negotiated 16% company 401(k) contributions during the initial payroll system rollout.

(Yeah, we agree, that'd be hard to miss.)

On Tuesday, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) along with Senators Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced the Cabin Air Safety Act, a bill that seeks to protect airline passengers and cabin crew from toxic cabin air.

Academic research indicates that approximately 20,000 toxic fume events have occurred during the past 10 years - an average of five each day.

“The IAM commends Senators Blumenthal, Feinstein and Markey for introducing legislation that will help ensure the safety of the passengers and crew from the dangers of toxic air,” said Transportation GVP Sito Pantoja.

District 142 President Dave Supplee, an FAA-licensed Airframe and Powerplant technician, met with Senator Blumenthal’s staff to provide technical help as they drafted the bill.

The Cabin Safety Act aims to make the cabin air on airplanes safer through multiple steps such as:

• Training: Mandating pilot and flight attendant training regarding toxic fumes on aircraft.
• Reporting: Requiring FAA to record and monitor reports of fume events through a standardized form and public database.
• Investigating: Ensuring that thorough investigations occur after fume events occur.
• Monitoring: Ensuring that aircraft have carbon monoxide sensors that are set to alarm based on national air quality standards.

Delta Flight Attendants can express support for the Bill and urge their Senators to vote for it by sending an IAM action alert by clicking here

Our productivity earned Delta over $1.7 billion this quarter.

But Delta's punishing work rules don't reward us for our company's success.

It's Time We Stand Up for Ourselves!

We can't waste this opportunity to negotiate during the best of times. Let's get our vote and our fair share!

Renew your card and your commitment. Our time has come.

IAM the brand.
IAM the future.
IAM Delta.      

DELTA'S ENDLESS SUMMER:

-Endless Reroutes

-Endless Understaffing

-Endless Schedule

Values

-Endless Injuries

-Endless Swap

Restrictions

When will it end? 

When we negotiate

Work Rules in an IAM  

Contract.

#IAMALLIN

#IAMREADY

The IAM supports and sympathizes with all Flight Attendants affected by last night’s traumatic incident on Delta Flight 129. The IAM will continue fighting for safety improvements for not only its members, but for all workers. There needs to be zero tolerance for such violent and criminal behavior against Flight Attendants.

The House Transportation Committee today will be considering an FAA Reauthorization Bill that directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to revise current rules for flight attendant rest. The bill would require them to be given a rest period of at least 10 uninterrupted hours.

This important safety change replaces the current eight-hour rest period. The bill would also require airlines to submit to regulators fatigue risk management plans for attendants.

“Flight Attendants have a crucial and often life-saving job responsibility,” said GVP Sito Pantoja. “The inclusion of the ten-hour rest rule in this bill is a step towards ensuring that Flight Attendants are properly prepared to do their jobs.”

The IAM has been aggressively lobbying Congress to adopt this ten-hour rule for years, meeting with lawmakers from both parties and holding rallies on Capitol Hill.

“The IAM places a great deal of importance on the safety and well-being of both flight attendants and passengers,” said GVP Pantoja. “I congratulate our legislative team and our members for working hard and pushing for this legislation change.”

The story below illustrates how union members express their collective voice and hold their employer accountable to the agreements they make.

Delta Leaders to Delta FAs:

STOP getting hurt
STOP getting sick
STOP taking crew rest
STOP taking summer vacation
STOP calling scheduling

Take It From Me, a Delta Employee: Passengers and Workers Are in This Fight Together

PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS AT DELTA ARE RISING AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS HAVE NO SAY IN SETTING THE COSTS!

Hundreds of IAM members this week descended on Washington D.C. at one of the the largest legislative conferences in organized labor. IAM members fanned out on Capitol Hill and met with lawmakers from both parties and pressed for legislation that would better the lives of workers and their families.

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, a stalwart of labor and workers’ rights, electrified the delegates when he emphasized the vital importance of the IAM-Delta campaign to all workers in the United States.

IAM-represented airline workers, including flight attendants, met with the likes of Senators Elisabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Al Franken (D-MN) and many others.

Flight Attendants and Customer Service Agents (CSAs) lobbied Congress to adopt a 10-hour minimum rest requirement for flight attendants and pushed Congress to adopt an "Employee Assult Prevention and Response Plan." This plan would include guidelines for CSAs should they encounter violent behavior.

The IAM’s Legislative Department Director, Hasan Solomon, updated conference delegates on the status of important legislation and the union’s legislative strategies for the 115th Congress. International President Bob Martinez Jr. gave the keynote address and stressed the importance of IAM’s resolve in the face of many attacks on organized labor and thanked delegates for their continued hard work back in their home states.

IAM delegates concluded the week with the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) conference. The MNPL was created in 1947 to allow IAM members to gather individual contributions, coordinate political activity, and elect candidates who support IAM members and their families. It’s important to note that any money from the MNPL given to candidates for political office comes from IAM member donations and NOT from union dues.

IAM Representatives out in force today with Detroit strong!!

Don't wait one minute longer, sign a card NOW and let's get the election we DESERVE!!!

Also, be on the lookout for a new mailing that will have a personalized a-card and a letter of support from IAM International.

“In spite of these achievements, there is much work yet to be done,” said GVP Pantoja. “We cannot allow ExpressJet to continue delaying a fair agreement for our Flight Attendants, and we will redouble our efforts to finally organize Delta flight attendants and ground workers and JetBlue ground staff. I look forward to celebrating the successful conclusion of these campaigns at our next Transportation Conference.”

As a result of Delta's operational breakdown, signed IAM cards have been coming in at a rapid pace this week!

The IAM Transportation Department sends its support to the Delta Flight Attendants who were stranded in terminals throughout the country this past week. Delta’s operational breakdown, and subsequent abandonment of its Flight Attendants, is further proof of the importance of having a union contract. Without the protection a union contract affords, the safety and well-being of flight attendants will continue to be neglected by Delta.

                            SIGN A CARD TODAY AND HAVE A VOICE IN YOUR FUTURE!

     GLR Kris Hannah Joins Delta Flight Attendants at IAM Visibility Day at MSP Airport 

What’s the BEST thing about Delta’s much hyped April Fools’ Day base pay increase?

Is it that we’re paying for our own raise with the loss of over 50% of our Profit Sharing?

Or that our real hourly rate has inched up only 3.6% in thirteen years?

No. Those facts are NOT the best thing ever. The BEST thing for our group is that NEGOTIATIONS START FROM HERE!

When we begin negotiating our first IAM contract, Delta is bound to preserve all current pay, benefits, and working conditions. We will negotiate improvements to what we currently have.

We simply need to earn a union vote first to lock in our negotiations starting point.

Don’t fool around with our future: sign an IAM card today!

Visit iamdelta.net/acard to request a card online. When it arrives in your home mailbox, sign, date, send, and email verify as instructed on the receipt.

Preserve and protect what we have now, and let’s advance toward an industry leading contract!

A Big THANK YOU to All the IAM-Delta Activists Who Volunteered on Valentine's Day to Inform Their Flight Attendant Colleagues About Delta's HUGE Profit Sharing Cut.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today submitted comments regarding the DOT’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) concerning the “protection of passengers from being unwillingly exposed to inflight voice calls.” The DOT seeks comment on whether to prohibit airlines from allowing passengers to make voice calls from wireless mobile devices on domestic and/or international flights and its proposal to require the sellers of air transportation to provide adequate advance notice to passengers if the carrier operating the flight allows voice calls on wireless mobile devices.

“Flight attendants already have the great responsibility of securing the safety of the flying public,” said General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “They are the last line of security onboard an aircraft, making their jobs harder is dangerous and wrongheaded.”

The IAM asked the DOT to consider the stress and distractions flight attendants would undoubtedly encounter by permitting inflight voice calls. It’s inevitable that flight attendants will have to neutralize cabin situations caused by hostility between passengers stemming from inflight voice calls. The use of inflight cell phones may also pose additional security risks. Potentially, terrorists aboard a single or multiple aircrafts could use this new capability to communicate with each other about the movement and vulnerability of crew members or to even initiate a coordinated attack.

Unionized Delta Pilots voted for a contract that preserved last year’s Profit Sharing formula, awarded $380 million in retroactive pay, and added another $95 million in contract improvements in 2016.

As a result of the Pilots' deal, Delta's pre-tax income is $475 million lower, which directly decreases the profit sharing for Delta FAs.

The Pilots' increased compensation changed Delta’s balance sheet. That collective power is at the heart of what unions do: negotiate sweet deals in good times, and safeguard members in tough times.

Without a contract, our Profit Sharing formula was changed overnight — funding our own so-called “raise" — and our payouts were slashed 53% in Delta’s most successful year ever.

That isn't funny, Valentine.

Delta Flight Attendants have the passion and potential to negotiate our own industry leading contract in a mature relationship with our company.

Sign an IAM card today!