Message from the MECP
Social media was abuzz yesterday with the news that Delta Air Lines management would begin paying Delta Flight Attendants boarding pay, effective June 2022, at fifty percent (50%) of their flight time (i.e., block) pay rate. Delta management’s decision to implement boarding pay is unquestionably connected to AFA’s continuing efforts to organize Delta Flight Attendants. Unfortunately, Delta management could unilaterally end boarding pay at their sole discretion until such time that Delta Flight Attendants vote for union representation.
Click here for AFA’s message to Delta Flight Attendants >
Regardless of the underlying circumstances, the implementation of boarding pay for cabin crew at a major airline has major implications for collective bargaining in the US aviation industry going forward–including our upcoming negotiations. Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants definitely deserve boarding pay, and boarding pay will be in our opening proposal to management!
Note: Some Flight Attendants have a misconception that the Railway Labor Act (RLA) prevents us from negotiating boarding pay or otherwise receiving compensation for boarding, but there is no such prohibition. This misconception is likely related to confusion about how minimum wage (and overtime pay) requirements are applied under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to employees of an air carrier subject to the provisions of Title II of the RLA when such employees are engaged in duties related to air transportation.
It is amazing and wrong, that all these years, we have been working for free, during the most difficult part of our day….boarding!! Also, as you all know, we are also on board before boarding…doing our safety checks, and briefings. I don’t know of another job or profession, that is not paid from the time they check in for work…for us one hour prior to departure.
Please don’t let this get put aside again during negotiations.
I am horrified to hear that Delta thinks its “okay” to pay anyone HALF of their hourly rate for an hour’s work and absolutely hope our negotiating committee will be asking for an equivalent amount to our “hourly” wage. IMO it is ludacris that this “theft of hours”/pay has been allowed to continue for so long. We are doing all safety related and customer service related duties PLUS readying the plane, service items as well as passengers for safe take off and flight… there is NO INTELLIGENT REASON that we should be expected to be paid any PORTION of our hourly rate of pay. It is about time this and all airlines be held accountable for doing the right thing ESPECIALLY in light of the record breaking PROFITS made by Alaska Airlines for LITERALLY YEARS