Virginia Becomes Latest State to Extend Paid Sick Leave to Airline Flight Crews

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), issued the following statement after Virginia signed into law paid sick leave protections for workers, including airline pilots and flight attendants:

“Today, Virginia's airline pilots and flight attendants won the same paid sick leave protections as every other worker in the Commonwealth, and it is a victory hard won.

"From the start, the Virginia General Assembly recognized what was always true: airline crew members are Virginia workers, and they deserve the same basic protections as their colleagues in every other industry. Airline crew members get sick just like everyone else and now, Virginia's pilots and flight attendants will have the security of knowing they can take care of themselves and their families without fear of losing their jobs or their pay.

"We thank the AFL-CIO and the Virginia legislators who stood firm against airline industry pressure and kept faith with the workers they represent. Their determination to see this through made today possible. This is what it looks like when labor and lawmakers work together for working people."

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on X @ALPAPilots.

CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org