More than 2,000
Delta pilots sign up for early retirement
By Kelly Yamanouchi, The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Atlanta-based Delta announced last week that more
than 17,000 employees had opted for buyouts or early retirement packages,
part of an effort to cut costs due to the “staggering impact” of the
coronavirus pandemic that has sharply curtailed air travel.
In addition, more than 2,230 pilots
have signed up for the voluntary early retirement program, according to the Air
Line Pilots Association union at Delta.
“This is meaningful progress as we
look to mitigate furloughs and our teams are hard at work to determine next
steps and evaluate how the pilot early retirement may affect Delta’s overall
pilot staffing outlook,” the airline said in a written statement.
Delta has about 90,000 employees,
including roughly 14,000 pilots.
Pilots who qualify for early retirement and take the package will get 58 hours of pay per month for 36 months or until age 65, whichever comes earlier. They also qualify for certain medical and travel benefits. Pilots who sign up will retire starting Sept. 1.
Last month, Delta warned pilots of potential
furloughs.
While the window was open to sign up
for the offer, Delta’s senior vice president of flight operations, John
Laughter, told pilots in a memo that “we face a long, choppy recovery and
constantly changing road ahead.”
In the memo last Friday, Laughter pushed a management proposal to reduce
pilots’ guaranteed pay by 15% for one year, in return for a guarantee of no
pilot furloughs for a year.
“Our approach is to spread the work of
a smaller airline among all our pilots to preserve all jobs,” Laughter wrote.
“But we cannot do it only with voluntary options” such as early retirements and
paid leaves.
In response, the pilots union said it
is in active negotiations with the company and that “we need to finish
addressing implementing all voluntary partially paid leave variations before
discussing any involuntary options with Delta.”
Earlier this year the pilots union
rejected management’s push for a proposed 20% cut in guaranteed
pilot pay, while proposing other options. The airline has cut pay
for many of its other employees, who are not unionized, by 25%.
The pilots union in March struck a deal to offer pilots
time off at reduced pay — but subsequently Delta management said it no longer wanted to
offer paid leave to pilots because tens of thousands of its other
employees had signed up for unpaid leave.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Delta set to furlough over 1,900 pilots in October
CHICAGO (Reuters) -
Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) is set to furlough 1,941 pilots in October, the carrier
said in a memo to employees on Monday that noted the fallout from the COVID-19
pandemic and plunging air travel demand.U.S. airlines
have warned they will need to furlough tens of thousands of workers once $25
billion in U.S. government stimulus funds run out in September. The aid, which
covered employees’ pay, was meant to help them weather the pandemic and
preserve jobs until a recovery, but travel remains depressed.
“We are six months into this pandemic and only 25% of our
revenues have been recovered. Unfortunately, we see few catalysts over the next
six months to meaningful change this trajectory,” Delta’s head of flight
operations John Laughter said in the memo.
He said the airline is “simply overstaffed.”
Atlanta-based Delta had originally estimated a surplus of
2,558 pilots but reduced the number of involuntary furloughs following early
retirement and voluntary departure programs, a spokeswoman said.
But there were still
roughly 11,200 active pilots on Delta’s roster, Laughter said, with only about
9,450 needed for the summer 2021 schedule, which the carrier expects will be
the peak flying period for the next 12-18 months.
The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents Delta’s
pilots, said it was “extremely disappointed” in the decision.
Pilots are the only unionized work group at Delta, which
last month said furloughs could be avoided if pilots agreed to a 15% cut to
minimum pay.
U.S. airline unions, however, have been reluctant to
negotiate pay cuts, having only recently recouped wages lost after the 2001
Sept. 11 attacks and a string of bankruptcies and mergers that followed.
Peers such as American Airlines (AAL.O) have said they are
trying to keep as many pilots as possible on board due to the costly and timely
training required to bring them back in a recovery. Airlines and unions have
been lobbying Washington to extend another $25 billion in aid to protect jobs
through March, but talks are at a standstill.
Delta also announced on Monday the retirement of Chief
Operating Officer Gil West, who helped lead the integration of Delta and
Northwest after joining the company in 2008.
Reporting by Tracy Rucinki in
Chicago; Writing by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Richard Pullin
MORE FROM REUTERS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Mark,
First - an apology. Yes, you are a member of the Delta
Golden Wings and I thank you!
Second. Soon the Delta retired pilot group will increase by
2700 folks. I hope that the "Rage" against Delta that
preceded this mass retirement - the "Rage" about the
loss of our retirement - is not present with this group. Forgiveness
is good for the soul!
I don't know whether there is now any
pre-retirement briefing for these folks. Delta Net may have
this for them. However, do the prospective retirees know that once
they swap out ID cards to a retirement ID they can no longer access
any of their personal information on Delta's computers, such as flight
hours, etc? In fact - the majority of information on Delta Net will be
inaccessible to these folks! Big Surprise to them!
In addition, before my retirement in May, 2002, I found out that I
could use ALL of my money in my FSA account even though I wasn't going to pay
any more premiums. I don't know whether that is still the case - but
it worked for me.
Approaching Medicare - the rules changed again. I failed to tell
Delta before my Medicare eligibility that I wanted to keep the Delta Cobra
dental insurance. So now I have another policy. Il earned my lesson so my
wife is still on the Delta Cobra plan.
The worst thing that has happened for the Delta Retired
groups in general - Delta is no longer providing the list and
contact information of new retirees to the Delta pioneers.
They, in turn, have provided those lists to the other retiree groups - such as
the DGW and Delta Clipped Wings, etc.. Now, the retiree groups
will have no way to contact these 17,000 retirees including the 2700 newly
retired pilots.
DGW has been trying to find a quick way to contact the pilots but have
no idea how to get any information to them without their addresses. I don't
know if your PCN information is available to them. Delta Golden Wings is
welcoming new members, however we are losing the ability to make contact with
retirees as is explained earlier. DGW keeps a roster of members, and it
is the only place to find a retired pilot - but that retired pilot must be a
member to be on the roster! We have fun and the only thing about Delta
is the name - we were affected by the bankruptcy too! www.deltagoldenwings.com
That is the conundrum!
Do you have any ideas? How can we contact active pilots before their
retirement?
Thanks for all that you do!,
Dave Ewing davidewing767@gmail.com
Editor:
In response to Captain David’s question, I did some thinking about it and
decided that since pilots are all connected on their private social media
streams that I would use social media to get these links in their hands. The
VEOP early out begins as of Sept 1.
My Captain son forwarded this below to the
VEOP group with well wishes:
I again, want to
wish all taking the VEOP a very full and rich life as you turn a new
chapter. Before you go, I’m sure the company will offer a briefing
including many online resources for retirees and survivors, but a retired pilot
has shared with me this list of some very good sources for pilot retirees that
you may or may not have heard about . Here are the links and general
descriptions:
Pilot
Communication Net (PCN) –largest (approx 3,000) online connection point for
Delta retired pilots.
Delta
Pilots Pension Preservation Organization DP3 (Retired Pilot resource for
pension preservation)- http://www.dp3.org
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Attempt by Capt David Ewing to
find out how to get information to the upcoming retiring pilots. Still unresolved.
Dear Darryl,
I'm a retired DL Captain and a member of the Delta Golden Wings.,
the retired Delta Pilot Group.
In the past we have received information from the company
listing recent pilot retirees. The company will no longer provide us
nor any other Delta retiree organization this information!
1. Does the MEC have a general publication which we can place info
about the Delta Golden Wings or the Pilot Communication Network? If
so, what is the cost to place an advertisement in that publication where
all pilot s would see it?
The Delta Golden Wings is the ONLY group that has a roster of
members - Delta will not divulge retired pilot info to us,
2. Can the MEC provide us with names and addresses of these 2700
pilots and subsequent retirees so we can contact them?
When I retired there were no mass groups similar to the pre
bankruptcy group and this group coming up.I don't recall much info
from Delta concerning retirement - other than mhow to get the paperwork,
etc. Lots of info was by word of mouth and some was non
existent.
As an example:
* Once retirees
swap out ID cards to a retirement ID they can no longer access any
of their personal information on Delta's computers, such as flight hours,
etc,
In fact - the majority
of information on Delta Net will be inaccessible to these folks! Big
Surprise to them!
* In addition, before my
retirement in May, 2002, I found out that I could use ALL of my money in my FSA
account even though I wasn't going to pay any more premiums. I don't know
whether that is still the case - but it worked
for me. Approaching Medicare -
the rules changed again. I failed to tell Delta before my Medicare eligibility
that I wanted to keep the Delta Cobra dental insurance. So now I have
another policy.
I Learned my lesson so
my wife is still on the Delta Cobra plan.
We all appreciate the difficult time that Delta employees are going
through right now. Please help us keep in touch with the retirees.
Sincerely,
Dave Ewing davidewing767@gmail.com
Retired off the B-767-400 May 2002.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
PCN attempts very intentionally to steer clear of purely political promotion or
positions. I think it the best policy
since we are trying to keep a retired community connected around all things
flying, Delta and career. Now, however,
we see corporations becoming highly political and Delta has just thrown their
hat in the ring. Much like the colossal mistakes in marketing from Sen VP Paul
Matsen, I think getting political is not a wise corporate move. See below:
From: Carter Chapman
Sent: 8/24/2020 11:01:21 PM Eastern Standard Time
Subject: Delta’s New BLM Flag and Pin
Sent: 8/24/2020 11:01:21 PM Eastern Standard Time
Subject: Delta’s New BLM Flag and Pin
From the DeltaNet today:
Black Lives Matter movement pin now available
Published Date 8/24/2020 12:15 PM
By Corporate Communications staff
At Delta, our mission is to make the world a smaller, more
connected place. Amid our broader diversity, equity and inclusion strategies,
we are called to face one of our nation's most pressing human rights issues
head on. Taking steps to address systemic racism to make our world more just
and equitable is the right thing to do.
At the suggestion of Antonio D., JFK-based flight attendant, to
the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council and BOLD, Delta is introducing a Delta-sponsored Black Lives
Matter (BLM) pin, available and optional for employees to wear with Delta
uniforms. Starting today, the pin will be available in most U.S.
domestic stations and bases for employees who wish to wear them.
Global events of racial injustice, violence and a pandemic
disproportionally impacting people of color have accelerated our position as an
anti-racist, anti-discriminatory organization and an advocate for justice. At
Delta, "Black Lives Matter" speaks of our support for the ongoing
dialogue and sustained journey of creating greater understanding. The pin does
not fund or support any similar organizations. Rather, it promotes the
widespread movement to protect, dignify and advocate for Black lives. It is a
symbol of solidarity, commitment and progress we must make for true equity to
be within reach. It is about basic human rights, equal justice and doing what
is right.
"Black lives matter at Delta," Ed said, when asked about
the pin in a Town Hall with Atlanta Mayor Bottoms. "It's a statement to remind me, as much as anyone else,
of the importance of the moment we're in. That this is a moment for change and
this is not going to be fleeting. But it will be, unless people like me own and
understand the moment and are accountable for making change."
It is a personal decision whether an employee chooses to wear
the pin. Delta colleagues should respect one another, practice inclusion and
not make assumptions about an individual's decision to wear the pin or not.
Delta people are encouraged to make the decisions that they are most
comfortable with.
Recently, we have come together to raise a "Black Lives
Matter" flag in Atlanta and Minneapolis. Being a values-led brand means we not only raise our voices
when something goes against our beliefs, we help amplify those who have been
silenced. We've placed an emphasis on creating understanding and education
around systemic racism within our workforce, through "Let's Talk About
It" Town Halls and corporate forums, like our Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion resource hub.
We must continue to turn our commitment into action: strengthening our pipeline to have stronger diversity and
representation in our employee base – especially among leaders – introducing
more diversity to our Board of Directors, addressing bias in our talent
processes, addressing inequity and creating more opportunities for
underrepresented people, increasing inclusion training and partnering with
diverse business owners to generate wealth for the Black community.
Whether you need an ally or want to be an ally, learn more about
the meaning of allyship or tips for making allyship effective. Share your Black Lives Matter pin pictures on SkyHub using
hashtag #BlackLivesMatter and #UntilWeAllCare. Join BOLD,
Delta's Black community business resource group, to connect with other
colleagues, raise your suggestions and provide input on Delta's strategy to
respond to racial injustice and create a more equitable world.
++++
I am
all for inclusion and justice. I wish BLM was as well. What’s next? Hammer and
Sickle on a red banner? Glad I’m no longer around to endure this misguided
mishmash of sucking up to fashionable but ill-considered empty gestures. Mother
Delta must be so ashamed.
Nuf’ said!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Can anyone email Capt Poole an answer
to this question and CC the PCN?
Hello Mark,
A good
friend of mine and fellow retired WAL/DAL pilot took his own life last week. Is
there any reason to believe this would negate his eligibility to
receive the Survivor benefits? I don't think so, but his family raised the
question.
Best Regards,
Bob Poole poole76@gmail.com
777 ATL 2000
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