Ramp & Cargo

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (“IAM”) is attempting, for the third time, to become the exclusive union representative of Delta Ramp and Cargo employees after losing an election in 2010 and an unsuccessful card-collection effort in 2019. IAM has also unsuccessfully attempted to organize other Delta work groups, including Above-Wing, Reservations, and Flight Attendants. Every Delta employee has the right to choose or reject union representation. Hear some of your peers’ perspectives and learn more about your choice below.

Airline Unions 101

Get the facts

About the IAM

Learn more

Ramp & Cargo News

View latest updates

Hear from Ramp & Cargo Agents

Delta ramp and cargo workers are proud to serve and work at Delta. It's what makes our direct relationship different.
They share their perspective on what life is like with IAM, other unionized airlines, and why Delta is always exceeding.

"[Delta leaders] have always shown us that they value their employees... In my 28 years of experience, I have always had that. I've always had that trust [in leaders]. They always have an open-door policy. I love that oppurtunity, going to our leaders, and expressing what we got going on."

Justin H. Aircraft Lead Agent, ATL

Delta Delivers More For You

As you decide whether or not to sign an A-Card, it's important to consider our long track record of working together to drive change based on your feedback – without having to pay the IAM.

Increasing Pay

Whether you are just starting out your career at Delta, or have been with the company for years, you can expect to earn more in total compensation. In 2024, we announced a 5% base pay increase and increased starting pay rates to at least $19 per hour. Including the 2024 raise, lead and specialty premiums for our ground agents and now entry pay for our newest ground employees, Delta has made cumulative investments of 20-25% in compensation in each of our largest frontline workgroups since 2022.

*Based on pay scales effective 6/1/24 assuming 2,080 hours.

Total Compensation

When looking at total compensation – including base pay, profit sharing, and shared rewards – top-of-scale Delta ACS ramp and cargo employees bring home more than their peers at American and United. Take a look at total compensation for a top-of-scale ramp/cargo agent (i.e., an agent that has achieved 10.5 years of service at Delta) compared to their peers.

For each carrier = Base rate at top of scale, assuming a schedule of 2080 hours annually + Profit Sharing + Shared Rewards if applicable. (Prior 12 months earned amount)

Ramp and cargo compensation chart 2024

Best-in-Class Profit Sharing

Since 2010, Delta employees have received $10.4 billion in profit sharing, while United employees received $3.3 billion, and American's received $1.4 billion. Delta's 2023 profit sharing expense of over $1.4 billion is also greater than our peer airlines combined ($681 million for United and $351 million for American). Further, all eligible Delta employees also received the same 10.40% payout, equal to more than one month's pay. At United, the IAM-negotiated profit sharing plan delivers less for ramp and cargo personnel than other workgroups receive.

Job Security

While IAM likes to talk about “job security,” at Delta, we deliver. When times were tough during the pandemic, we worked together to protect and create jobs while union contracts at other airlines forced competitors to deal with the downturn through furloughs.

Insourcing

Delta continues to insource more work — including 2,000 new jobs over the past five years. In contrast, Alaska’s IAM-represented ramp workforce is half what it was 10 years ago due to outsourcing in their hubs.

Shared Rewards

We kept Delta’s Shared Rewards program intact throughout the pandemic while other airlines suspended theirs. From 2020 to 2023, that meant $3,075 in Shared Rewards earned, compared to $225 at United and $50 at American.

Career Mobility

We empower you to build lifelong careers by supporting your goals and prioritize hiring for leadership positions from within, as well as enabling movement within the business that you don’t often see under an IAM contract, such as carrying your full company seniority with you when you transfer roles within ACS. For example, at American, an IAM-represented agent may not take their seniority for bidding and other purposes if they transfer above-wing.

Leader Support

Here we can work together in a way that just doesn’t happen much under an IAM contract. For instance, your leaders can step up to work directly alongside you on the frontlines to keep things running smoothly when needed. Under a union contract, that sort of assistance could be prohibited.

Investing in Your Work Life

We listen to what will make the biggest impact in your work life and the operation and take action. In the past two years, we have invested almost $200 million in technology and equipment that makes your work life better.

Stay in the know.

*By texting the keyword above, you are agreeing to receive periodic SMS text messages from Delta Air Lines regarding One Future. One Delta. Standard messaging and data rates may apply. You may unsubscribe any time by texting “STOP” and the keyword above to +1 205 846 8096. Full Terms.