Delta and a union spar over isolation periods for sick workers

Delta and a large flight attendants union are fighting about whether the company’s new isolation policy for employees who test positive for the coronavirus puts workers and travelers at risk. The airline’s chief legal officer sent a letter on Friday to the Association of Flight Attendants-C.W.A. saying the union had posted “false and defamatory information” about the company’s policies and asking it to correct those statements and stop repeating them. The union, which represents nearly 50,000 flight attendants at 17 airlines and is seeking to unionize Delta’s flight attendants, responded Tuesday that its statements had been “truthful and accurate.” “Delta has always followed the science to form our policies regarding Covid-19,” the airline said Tuesday. “We sent a cease and desist letter because we believe institutions and leaders must speak carefully, truthfully and factually.” The union’s president, Sara Nelson, said Delta was responsible for confusing workers. “We’re glad that AFA’s calling attention to the issues appears to have led Delta to update its policy several times and communicate this to workers,” Nelson said in her letter, which was addressed to Delta’s CE, Ed Bastian. The dispute concerns Delta’s adherence to a recent change by the CDC, which has shortened the recommended isolation time to five days for people who are vaccinated and who get the virus, so long as their symptoms are resolving and they have no fever. The CDC’s updated guidance was released after Delta executives sent the agency a letter arguing that the previous 10-day isolation period “may significantly impact our work force and operations.” Some public health experts had also called for updated guidelines.<br/>
New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/11/business/delta-flight-attendants-union-isolation-covid.html?searchResultPosition=2
1/11/22