Look For, That Union Label

Delta, Huh?

It appears that Delta Airlines is worried enough about a nascent unionization drive, they will start paying flight attendants when they handle boarding and deplaning. (Is deplaning even a real word?)

So now, as opposed to just getting paid when the doors are closed, they will getting paid, albeit less, as they help passengers board:

Delta Air Lines announced Tuesday it will become the first U.S. airline to pay flight attendants for boarding duties starting this summer.

In a memo sent to employees, the company said starting June 2 flight attendants would get boarding pay for all flights. In the airline industry, flight attendants only receive compensation for flights after the airplane doors close.

“The addition of boarding pay to flight attendant compensation is a testament to Delta’s longstanding commitment to deliver industry-leading pay to our industry-leading team while enhancing our operational reliability for customers,” Delta said in a statement.

Along with the boarding pay, Delta is increasing its boarding time for smaller aircrafts from 35 minutes to 40 minutes.

“Flight attendants are critical to ensuring a welcoming, safe environment onboard, and we are excited to bring this new benefit to our people and improve on-time departures and arrivals for both crew and customers,” Delta said.

The boarding flight pay comes on top of a pay raise for employees that will go into effect in May. 

Delta's flight attendants are not unionized, but they are trying to get unionized.

This is the only reason that this happened.