Time is running out. It’s absolutely critical that lawmakers and the White House return to the table and extend relief for hundreds of thousands of pilots, flight attendants, and other aviation workers who face potential furlough as a result of the COVID-19 economic downturn. On September 30, the CARES Act Payroll Support Program will expire, and many aviation workers will be out on the streets and in the unemployment line through no fault of their own. This harm to workers is entirely avoidable, and it’s in our national economic interest to prevent such a tragedy.
For the past several weeks, ALPA pilots, their friends and families, and the flying public have reached out to every U.S. lawmaker from both parties, urging them to come together and reach an agreement to provide continued economic relief for aviation-sector employees. Through ALPA’s Call to Action, more than 300,000 letters have been sent to Congress advocating for a clean extension of the Payroll Support Program. This massive grassroots effort has reached every member of the Senate and House of Representatives, and more than 120,000 tweets have reiterated the importance of this continued support for frontline aviation workers and an industry that is a major driver of the American economy.
Republicans and Democrats both have publicly stated that failing to extend the CARES Act risks hundreds of thousands of aviation jobs and the future of American air travel. Aviation workers are doing their part to save jobs and kick-start recovery for our industry. We need U.S. government leaders to come together now to do theirs by extending the CARES Act Payroll Support Program through March 31, 2021.
To date, more than 11,000 ALPA pilots have received notices of potential furlough. Without an extension to the CARES Act Payroll Support Program, these pilots could lose their jobs and health-care benefits and the ripple effect across the entire economy could threaten the jobs of hundreds of thousands of other aviation workers.
ALPA will continue to pursue every avenue to forestall furloughs and restart our industry, and stands ready to support pilots and their families during these difficult times.
By the Numbers:
300,000 Letters sent to Congress urging support for an extension of the Payroll Support Program
120,00 Tweets sent to all Senate and House of Representatives lawmakers calling for a PSP extension
11,000 + ALPA pilots who have received notices of potential furlough
6 months of extended PSP funding through March 31, 2021
0 – On September 30, the CARES Act Payroll Support Program will expire
Hundreds of thousands of jobs threatened across the entire economy if PSP is allowed to expire