This Thursday, September 1, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) will coordinate various ALPA Master Executive Councils (MECs) - or councils that represent an airline's pilots at the bargaining table with the airline in having a nationwide informational picket of off-duty pilots to inform the public of the pilots’ needs at the bargaining table. The pilots will almost certainly be joined by Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) members and possibly other allies under strict rules of engagement to carefully build public awareness.

6 MECs, 13 Locations

ALPA informational picket-map for 1 September 2022
A map of the airports that ALPA intends to informationally picket on September 1, 2022. Graphic: ALPA

The publicly announced plan is to deploy off-duty pilots and allies somewhere public at these 13 airports on September 1:

  • Atlanta (ATL): South Terminal upper-level outer and inner curbside east of Door S1 and South Terminal upper-level outer curbside between Doors S5 & S6
  • Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD): Terminal 1, Concourse B, upper level outside in the connection walkway between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2
  • Detroit (DTW): McNamara Terminal upper ticketing/departure level north end
  • Las Vegas (LAS): Terminal 1 between Doors 16 and 17
  • Los Angeles (LAX): Upper-level Terminal 3
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP): Terminal 1—east upper roadway, south end
  • New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): T4 arrivals level outer island
  • Orlando (MCO): Terminal A arrivals
  • Salt Lake City (SLC): Upper level/ticketing eastside along Terminal Drive
  • San Francisco (SFO): International Terminal upper roadway between Doors 1-5
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA): Along both sides of International Blvd. between 18118 and 18740 and near Flagpole at S 182nd Street
  • Washington, DC’s Reagan National Airport (DCA): Terminal 2, ticketing level Door 6 by the American Airlines ticket counters

The ALPA MECs that will participate are:

  • Delta Air Lines
  • Endeavour Air, a regional airline that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines
  • JetBlue Airways
  • Spirit
  • Sun Country
  • United Airlines

These MECs have contracts under active negotiation and do not appear to be close to resolution as Alaska Airlines may be. In fact, Delta Air Lines' MEC is considering a strike authorization vote.

How is informational picketing intended to work?

The intention of Informational picketing is arguably best explained by Delta MEC Chairman Jason Ambrosi addressing his members at a recent video town hall posted to the council's website:

"Your solidarity on the picket line has gotten management's attention and that of the traveling public. It moves the needle to table. It gives the negotiators tangible proof of our resolve as the Delta pilots to accept nothing less than an industry-leading contract. Other ALPA pilots, as well as SWAPA and APA, will also be picketing ... as a show of solidarity throughout the industry before Labor Day.

"...Unity, and solidarity, those are important things are not just words; it's it really helps move the needle at the table."

Yes, the union needs to show it's unified and dedicated. Informational picketing of off-duty workers is a means to that end. In an August 29, 2022 statement, ALPA explained;

"The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) will be hosting a nationwide picket on September 1, 2022, to send a strong message to airline managements across the country that it’s time to prioritize passengers and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices pilots made during the pandemic. Standing in solidarity heading into the Labor Day holiday weekend... ALPA pilots are calling on management to fix their operational problems that are causing a significant increase in flight delays, and cancellations."

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What to expect at an informational picket?

To his right are JetBlue ALPA Pilots MEC Chair CA Chris Kenney and Delta ALPA Pilots MEC Secretary FO David Adler. Photo: APA
ALPA president Capt. Joe DePete was joined by Allied Pilots Association President Eric Ferguson, and fellow ALPA national officers on the Seattle picket line. Photo: APA

First, this historic US nationwide informational picket will not disrupt a single flight on September 1, 2022. Please remember an informational picket is not a strike. Informational picketing is a legally protected means for American unionized workers to voice concerns about the contract negotiating process on their time off from work. To get to a strike and therefore disrupt flight schedules legally would require a release from mediation, a lack of or failed arbitration, a cooling-off period, and more, as per this Simple Flying guide.

ALPA picket-guide
ALPA expectations of informational picketers. Graphic: ALPA

Second, please be mindful that the union has to obtain a permit to perform this free speech activity as the activity is along public sidewalks next to busy airports. Also, the union needs to send clear messages to management about unity and sincerity – and, as such, instruct picketers to refrain from conversation, use their cell phones, and such as above. But by all means, if you support the informational picketers, It’s a-ok to take pictures and give a thumbs up.

Any questions about informational picketing? Let us know in the comments.