The pilots of Delta have been put in a very difficult position. Here is a letter from the Chairman of DALPA:
Dear Fellow Pilot,
Recent news about Virgin Atlantic has raised questions about ALPA’s involvement. The
Virgin Atlantic pilots are represented by the British Air Line Pilots’ Association
(BALPA). There is another entity, the Professional Pilots’ Union (PPU), which is
attempting to represent the Virgin Atlantic pilots. At this time, BALPA is the only
union recognized by Virgin Atlantic as the pilots’ representative.
We learned on Friday that the PPU had concluded a ballot of its members on whether
to engage in an industrial action. Specifically, the PPU is calling for an Action Short of
a Strike (ASOS), similar in nature to a “work to rule” campaign. The ASOS is NOT over
pay, rules, working conditions or job security. The ASOS is over which union will
represent the pilots of Virgin Atlantic. While this is illegal under the Railway Labor
Act, it is legal under British law.
When a union is preparing to enter into an industrial action that involves the
withholding of services, labor protocol is for that union to reach out to other unions
that have an interest to advise of upcoming action. Sometimes a union will ask other
unions to refrain from performing “struck work.” A union may also request that other
unions not to honor their strike because they believe this will inflict more harm on
their company as the customers’ money goes to another company.
While the Delta MEC has a relationship with the unions of all of our codeshare or joint
venture partners and attempts to coordinate labor strategies, the PPU has never
made any contact with the Delta MEC during their campaign to replace BALPA. In an
attempt to check every side of the story, I personally reached out to the PPU (the
unrecognized union) and made clear our legal situation and encouraged them to
communicate with us in a timely manner. It was difficult to make contact: only after I
made several attempts to call their leadership, with no calls in return, did I speak to
their leadership. The PPU’s inexplicable failure to initiate any contact with Delta MEC
as they prepare to enter a potential industrial action undermines their credibility and
ability to generate support for their cause. The Delta MEC also asked BALPA (the
recognized union) if it intended to participate in this work to rule campaign. In
response to our query, BALPA replied that it has instructed Virgin Atlantic pilots to fly
as normal including overtime.
All of this begs the question of whether we should be taking (or refusing to take) some
action in support of the PPU. Our contract permits us to lawfully refrain from flying
extra sections or adding extra frequencies if there is a lawful strike at one of our
codeshare partners. This is not a strike. The PPU can legally call for a strike, but
chose to call for an ASOS. Again, other pilots at Virgin Atlantic may fly overtime
during the ASOS and according my conversation with the PPU, this is not being
considered struck work.
In response to the PPU’s ASOS, Delta management informed ALPA that they intend to
add extra sections to London Heathrow. In accordance with our contract and after
conferring with the Delta MEC and the ALPA President’s office, ALPA will not object
to Delta adding those extra sections. Again, this is not a dispute over the betterment
of a pilot groups’ contract, it is an internal dispute over who will represent the Virgin
Atlantic pilots. If one of the unions representing the Virgin Atlantic pilots were to call
for an actual, legal strike, the Delta MEC would come into session and respond
appropriately.
Fraternally,
Captain John Malone
Delta MEC Chairman
I would really like to hear from Virgin Atlantic pilots as to their thoughts on the posted letter from the leader of Delta ALPA.......