Delta workers and labor advocates lined the sidewalk near the company’s employee entrance at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Wednesday. And although rain soaked the group of more than 100, it could not drown out their chants or megaphones.
Evette Avery is one of several in attendance representing the Teamsters. Holding a megaphone near her lips, she chants, “Delta Delta, you can’t hide; we can see your greedy side!”
She is not alone in showing her support for the airport workers.
“I’m out in the rain for my people,” said Georgia State Rep. Kim Schofield, who represents the 63rd district, which includes the busiest airport in the world.
“This is about the people’s voice, and it’s time that we step up and have equity.”
According to a press release, over 50,000 Delta Air Lines ramp, tower and cargo workers, as well as flight attendants and mechanics from across the country, are organizing.
“We want better benefits. We want to be treated like we work, we work hard, and we deserve the best from Delta,” said Amanda Goodman Berry, a ramp worker with Delta for almost 30 years.
“Delta does not understand that workers need to be treated fairly. This is not right. All the other major airlines are unionized, and Delta’s CEO needs to let these employees unionize.”
In an emailed statement, a Delta spokesperson said that the company supports its employees’ right to choose or reject a union and prefers a direct relationship with workers over a union.
Delta Air Lines is the only U.S.-based mainline carrier with no union for flight attendants, fleet service or mechanics.
For Charlie Hood, office manager for the Atlanta Delta ramp campaign, the fight for representation is long overdue.
“This campaign has been going on since 2014,” Hood said. “We’ve had some strong union brothers and sisters to leave us, transition out to die, and then we had others to retire, but they fought the fight they started, and we want to make sure they understand that we didn’t forget their, their beginning of this in 2014.”
Still, the fight for unionization persists ten years later. Union organizers made previous attempts in 2010, 2008 and 2002, all unsuccessful.
President Joe Biden has aligned himself with unions throughout his administration, but Republicans are starting to show signs of union support in this current election cycle.
“Well, it’s refreshing to see members of the right-leaning toward unions and leaning toward labor. Let’s hope that it’s not just for votes,” said Dave Jackson, who joined the campaign last summer.
As Delta workers continue to push for unionization, labor advocates see the November presidential election as a potential turning point for organizing efforts moving forward.
Goodman Berry says there is a crucial difference between this campaign and past unsuccessful ones, and that is youth.
“We have a lot of young, innovative, motivating, inspiring people along with us,” she said. “And we’re willing to fight for it because we know we deserve it.”
