Catch-Up Payment Could Grant 22% of 2020-22 Pay, with 31% Pay Increase Through 2026

A supposed Delta Pilot contract draft has begun floating around the journo-sphere, with details pointing the way on an eventual vote. 

While the contract seems to be a slightly better offer than others in recent months, mounting economic pressure may tarnish the silvery luster of a cumulative 31% pay bump over the next 4 years. News outlets were quick to speak of a 34% pay increase, but the long and short of the deal isn't quite so glamorous. The contract, in its current form, will grant a raise of at least 18% on the date it's signed, with another 5% bump after a year, another 4% after 2 and 3 years. To make up for the non-amended contract, Delta pilots would also get a one-time payment equal to 22% of their earnings from 2020 to 2022, more or less the length of time the group has been laboring under an amenable contract. One added bit of one-upmanship is the bullet point that promises Delta pay will lead United and American's by at least 1%.

The deal may or may not be enough to entice a pilot base that is, in a word, pissed. The pilots voted in overwhelming favor of authorizing a strike if their negotiators failed to reach an agreement for an updated contract. Delta pilots feel they've faithfully soldiered on for the company, working through lockdowns, pandemic hassles, and vaccination debates without the quality of life and pay improvements expected throughout the industry. As carriers quickly bounced back from pandemic passenger loads, landing on their feet with profitable ticket sales, many pilots feel it's time for the C-suites to make good on 2+ years of promises.

Also included in the draft contract are a number of small quality-of-life improvements, like 10 weeks of maternity leave, 2 weeks of paid parental leave, and more affordable health insurance. As with all contracts, though, it doesn't count until it's voted on, signed, and effective. 

FMI: www.reuters.com