Delta Air Lines vs. the nation’s largest flight attendants union over shortening Covid’s sick leave

Delta Airlines sent the country’s largest federation of flight attendants a cease-and-desist letter after its president criticized the company’s shortened sick leave policy for employees with Covid-19.

Last Thursday, Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, tweeted that the union is receiving “many reports” that Delta “is telling workers in workgroups that they should come to work if asymptomatic even if someone in the household tests positive.” She also said that positive workers were asked to “come to work in 5 days if the fever is below 100.9, immediately even if the test results are still positive.”

A day later, Peter Carter, Delta’s chief legal officer, sent the AFA the letter.

“This information is not only false but actionable because it puts Delta in a highly negative light given that Delta has asked employees to work when they are sick,” Carter’s letter said. “Such irresponsible behavior is inappropriate, defamatory and must cease immediately.”

Nelson, whose union does not represent Delta flight attendants but has started a drive organization in November 2019, defended his comment and said Delta’s policies had confused flight crews.

“Delta’s policy now addresses being symptom-free before returning to work, which is a serious concern because CDC guidance was initially omitted in Delta’s policy notice,” she wrote. to Delta CEO Ed Bastian on Tuesday. “But we still get questions from Delta flight attendants about returning to work with a mild fever and the fact that Delta’s current policy only recommends testing before returning to work and not.” required to take the exam.”

Delta updated its Covid sick leave policy on December 28 to five days off with pay protection – down from 10 days – that don’t require employees to use multiple days in their sick leave bank. Employees may have two more days if they test positive again on Thursday.

“Delta has always followed science to shape our policies regarding COVID-19,” a Delta spokesperson said Tuesday. “We sent out a cease-and-desist letter because we believe organizations and leaders must speak with caution, honesty, and fact.”

The airline has asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to halve the recommended isolation period for breakthrough Covid infections to 5 days, warning of staff shortages and flight cancellations. fly, this then became a reality. JetBlue Airways and other service providers have requested similar changes. The CDC updated its guidance on December 27, after relaxing recommendations for healthcare workers.

The number of employees falling ill due to illness in Covid canceled and a series of winter storms passed 20,000 from Christmas to the first week of the year. United Airlines, the company still has 10 days of pay protections for crews with Covid, on Tuesday said it would cut its schedule further, with 3,000 workers, about 4% of US employees, testing positive. with coronavirus.

Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines give employees 10 days of pay protection if they test positive for Covid.