Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

Atlanta (February 14, 2024) —Today, Endeavor Air Flight Attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA picketed outside Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Delta headquarters to call out the “Delta Disparity Difference” and demand recognition for the role they play at the regional carrier wholly-owned and operated by Delta. Endeavor is as an integral part of Delta’s network. 

“It’s time for Delta management to recognize Endeavor workers' contributions to the success of Delta overall,” said Endeavor AFA President Tim Kipka. “Every year on Valentine’s Day, management hands out profit sharing checks and pretends to care about mainline workers. Passengers see Endeavor Flight Attendants as part of Delta. We are integral to Delta’s operation and there’s no difference in the work we do. But Delta management chooses to treat us as second class. It’s time for change.”

Delta will pay out $1.4 billion of 2023 profits to “eligible employees” today, but Endeavor Flight Attendants aren’t eligible. But that’s not the real problem—regional Flight Attendants are compensated on average 45% less. They do the same work and care for the same passengers as mainline Delta.

Delta management often points to the “Delta Difference” when trying to keep workers from gaining union rights or when passengers are choosing Delta’s “loyalty program.” During their picket outside Delta’s largest hub, Endeavor Flight Attendants educated the public and called attention to the “Delta Disparity Difference” that leaves Endeavor Flight Attendants struggling to make ends meet.

“Flight Attendants have had it with the industry’s two-tier system,” said AFA International President Sara Nelson. “Endeavor Flight Attendants deserve a fair share of the profits they create for Delta. They do the same job. Passengers buy tickets and check-in on the same app for their flight. The planes are painted in Delta colors and logos. The only difference is the arbitrary business structure set up in the industry that dishonestly claims these flights are an entirely different business. But Delta owns Endeavor and management could choose to respect all workers at the airline in the same way. We’re out here today to make sure Delta management hears us loud and clear that exploitation of workers on regional jets won’t fly.”

Endeavor Air is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines and the world's largest operator of CRJ-900 aircraft. Flying as Delta Connection, Endeavor operates 124 regional jets on 700 daily flights to over 100 cities in the U.S. and North America.

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The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, (AFA) AFL-CIO represents 50,000 Flight Attendants at 19 airlines. AFA is the union that has advanced the Flight Attendant profession for 78 years, beating back discrimination and improving wages, benefits, working conditions, and aviation safety, health and security in the aircraft cabin. AFA also partners with the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.