United Flight Attendant Union Attacks Delta Over Boarding Pay

A number of days in the past, Delta introduced that it will begin paying flight attendants throughout boarding, which is (surprisingly) in any other case not a regular observe within the US airline trade. United’s flight attendant union has now responded to this growth with some quite unusual claims.

Delta’s flight attendant boarding pay

Traditionally flight attendants in the USA haven’t been paid throughout boarding, however quite solely begin to receives a commission as soon as the plane door closes. Delta is the primary main US airline to vary this:

• Delta introduced it will begin paying flight attendants for the scheduled 40-50 minute boarding time, at half of the usual hourly charges
• Delta is the one main US airline the place flight attendants aren’t unionized, although through the years there have been a number of unionization efforts
• Clearly Delta main the best way right here was an try by administration to maintain flight attendants blissful and encourage flight attendants to not unionize

Earlier than we get into what United’s flight attendant union has put out, let me notice that:

• I’m pro-union, within the sense that I believe flight attendants must be allowed to unionize in the event that they need to, with out being intimidated
• I don’t essentially assume unionization is nice and non-unionization is unhealthy, or vice versa; objectively Delta flight attendants on the entire are in a greater spot than flight attendants at most different main US airways, they usually additionally present considerably higher service

With that in thoughts, let’s get into what United’s flight attendant union is claiming.

United flight attendant union responds to Delta

Clearly flight attendant unions are underneath stress, as a result of they haven’t been capable of negotiate boarding pay, whereas Delta flight attendants at the moment are proactively being supplied this. So the Affiliation of Flight Attendants (AFA), representing United Airways employees, has put out a memo to members about Delta’s growth.

Presumably some members are questioning why they’re paying dues when the union isn’t even capable of get them what Delta’s administration is proactively providing flight attendants.

The memo acknowledges that boarding pay is an effective factor, and that every one flight attendants ought to obtain boarding pay.

The union begins by claiming that boarding pay has been a precedence for at the very least 20 years, however since 9/11 the union has been “consumed with battling administration on the bargaining desk to maintain that which we’ve beforehand completed throughout negotiations.”

Mainly claiming “effectively we haven’t actually been capable of do something in 20 years” doesn’t appear to be a powerful argument in favor of unionization. That’s very true since Delta flight attendants are arguably in a greater place than United flight attendants.

The union then tries to color “the remainder of the story,” which incorporates the next:

• “Shrouded by this announcement is the truth that Delta administration has elevated passenger boarding time from 35 to 40 minutes and this announcement is their try to tamper again the indignant response it deserves from Flight Attendants”
• “This resolution is definitely tied to AFA’s ongoing effort in organizing Delta Flight Attendants”
• “As Delta continues so as to add extra providers, they’ve failed to revive staffing to pre-pandemic ranges on the plane”
• “This initiative seemingly is designed to divert consideration from the truth that Delta would require all Flight Attendants to put on a uniform that has made them sick, an initiative AFA is preventing towards as our collective work to determine requirements continues”
• “Within the absence of a contract, there isn’t any dedication to lock on this pay issue for Delta Flight Attendants”
• “It’s a stark reminder that Delta administration, in the identical method during which it was applied, has the power to unilaterally finish the boarding pay, at their sole discretion”

This argument is just in all places. The place will we even start?

• I’m fairly certain most Delta flight attendants don’t thoughts boarding time being elevated by 5 minutes if it means they’re being paid for your complete scheduled boarding time
• The AFA is correct about this being tied to makes an attempt to unionize Delta flight attendants, although that’s about the one correct and related level right here
• So far as Delta’s staffing ranges go, nearly all US airways employees home flights on the minimums legally required, so this can be a actually nuanced level
• I’m undecided what uniforms must do with boarding pay, however the AFA is basically greedy at straws right here
• Proper, there’s no dedication that Delta administration gained’t backtrack, however equally, if Delta administration does, wouldn’t that get rid of the entire level of this, which is to maintain flight attendants blissful and stop them from unionizing?

The entire thing provides off “however her emails” vibes.

Backside line

Flight attendants must be paid throughout boarding, plain and easy. Delta turned the primary main US airline to start out doing this, and that’s nice information. Whereas Delta flight attendants aren’t unionized, the most important airline unions must be thanking Delta right here, since Delta’s transfer provides them much more leverage.

Clearly unions are having a tough time justifying their worth to members in mild of this growth. Consequently, United’s flight attendant union is attacking Delta for rising boarding time by 5 minutes, and for all types of unrelated issues, like uniforms and staffing ranges.

What do you make of the response from United’s flight attendant union to Delta’s boarding pay?

(Tip of the hat to View from the Wing)