Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian has responded to recent criticism from US Senator Bernie Sanders and eight other congressional democrats regarding unionising.
The unrest started when social media posts became viral showing posters produced by Delta which discouraged workers from joining the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).
In a tweet posted on May 13, 2019, Sen. Sanders criticised Delta Airlines and its poster, saying: "Delta Airlines is worth billions and paid its CEO $22 million in 2017.
"It’s fighting its employees who want to join a union and negotiate for better wages, telling them to buy video games instead.
"That is the kind of greed we are going to end."
Furthermore, in a letter penned by Sen. Sanders, which was signed by eight other Democratic senators, it outlined the airlines “insulting and demeaning anti-union communications.”
In response to this, Bastian has written a statement on the company's website, outlining the poster which he described “was poorly crafted and not an appropriate communication to our people.”
In a further statement, Bastian said: “That’s not who we are, and we have taken steps to make sure future messages to our people regarding their choices on representation are always meaningful and respectful of their rights."
The airline CEO also disputed Sanders claim that ramp agents earn $9 per hour, citing this was "simply wrong - starting salaries are nearly double that rate."
Bastian went onto write that Delta will always be "pro people" and that the airlines employees have been "at the heart of our business for nearly 100 years."
Furthermore, Bastian stated that employees have seen their base pay increase by more than 30% in the last five years, with the airline providing "strong, middle-class jobs.