Delta Air Lines workers rally in Atlanta for labor union, rights

November 15th, 2023

Amanda Goodman Berry, who has been with Delta for over 25 years, speaks at a press conference and rally for the most recent push to unionize workers at the airline on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, in Atlanta, Ga. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

Dozens of union organizers and Delta Air Lines workers held signs and chanted during a rally outside of the IBEW Building in Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon.

Members of The Teamsters, the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM), and the Association of Flight Attendants were also in attendance.

“Multiple groups of people have come together to help us win this election. So we are just trying to make life better. We just want better,” said ramp worker Amanda Goodman Berry, who has been with the company for over 25 years.

Various Delta employees at the rally declared that the Atlanta-based airline is interfering with their rights, a claim that Delta denies, stating in recent statements that it supports its employees’ rights to choose a union and prefers a direct relationship with workers over a union.

According to a press release, over 50,000 Delta Air Lines ramp, tower and cargo workers, flight attendants and mechanics from across the company are organizing.

“We want to have quality health care, safe equipment, proper staffing, a voice in the workplace, and respect in the workplace,” said Gameli Appiah, a ramp worker at Delta who spoke at the rally with his daughter.

The group aims to educate people on the benefits of joining a union and furthering the movement to protect current and future employees.

Felix McGhee Jr., a Delta employee for over 20 years, states that workers will continue to keep fighting for a possible union election.

“We’re going to push through the holidays and ensure people can get their bags on time. And we’re going to push through to make sure that we can organize,” said McGhee Jr., adding that the group of workers in attendance are in no position to strike or organize any work actions.