The development is the latest step in what has been a long and complicated effort to resolve representation issues for Delta employees since the airline’s merger with Northwest Airlines to create the world’s largest carrier. Before the merger, most Northwest workers belonged to unions; most Delta workers did not.
Under rules set by the National Mediation Board, Delta must show it is operating as a single carrier for a particular job classification. In August, the Machinists asked the board to declare that the two airlines are operating as a single carrier with respect to 12,700 fleet service (including equipment service employee), flight simulator technician and plant protection employee classifications.
Since then, Delta management has argued that an election cannot be held for fleet service employees without including office and clerical and passenger service classifications. The union wants to resolve their representational status later.
At the same time, the union said, Delta management has misrepresented the union’s position in statements and in letters sent to employees’ homes.
“Accordingly, we do not believe fleet service employees, office and clerical employees or passenger service employees could have a fair election under present conditions,” Robert Roach, Jr., general vice president of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, said in a statement issued Friday.
“Delta’s actions have forced the IAM to withdraw its single carrier petition for fleet service employees today.
“The IAM looks forward to filing single carrier applications for fleet service, office and clerical and passenger service classifications when the taint of Delta’s conduct has dissipated and each of those groups on Delta and Northwest are functioning as a single transportation system.”
Roach said elections are expected to go ahead for two smaller groups – flight simulator technicians and plant protection employees. Delta is not trying to include them in an election with other employees.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, also is seeking an election to represent flight attendants at Delta.
As it considers how to group employees for voting in a union election, the National Mediation Board -- a federal agency – also is under pressure to change the way it counts the votes.
For many years, the board has required unions to win a majority of support among all people in the bargaining unit, whether or not they vote in the election. In essence, someone who does not vote is considered to have voted no.
On Friday, the chairs of two powerful U.S. House committees called on the board to revise the process.
“Elections across our country are based on recognizing the choice of a majority of voters who participate in the election,” George Miller, chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and Jim Oberstar, chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, wrote to the board.
“Non-votes are not counted as favoring one outcome or the other. This should be the practice of the NMB as well.”
Miller and Oberstar said the voting procedure is not outlined in the Railway Labor Act – which governs transportation – and the board has the ability to change the process any time it wants.
For more information
See the IAM District 143 website
Related article
IAM takes steps toward a union vote at Delta Airlines
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The development is the latest step in what has been a long and complicated effort to resolve representation issues for Delta employees since the airline’s merger with Northwest Airlines to create the world’s largest carrier. Before the merger, most Northwest workers belonged to unions; most Delta workers did not.
Under rules set by the National Mediation Board, Delta must show it is operating as a single carrier for a particular job classification. In August, the Machinists asked the board to declare that the two airlines are operating as a single carrier with respect to 12,700 fleet service (including equipment service employee), flight simulator technician and plant protection employee classifications.
Since then, Delta management has argued that an election cannot be held for fleet service employees without including office and clerical and passenger service classifications. The union wants to resolve their representational status later.
At the same time, the union said, Delta management has misrepresented the union’s position in statements and in letters sent to employees’ homes.
“Accordingly, we do not believe fleet service employees, office and clerical employees or passenger service employees could have a fair election under present conditions,” Robert Roach, Jr., general vice president of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, said in a statement issued Friday.
“Delta’s actions have forced the IAM to withdraw its single carrier petition for fleet service employees today.
“The IAM looks forward to filing single carrier applications for fleet service, office and clerical and passenger service classifications when the taint of Delta’s conduct has dissipated and each of those groups on Delta and Northwest are functioning as a single transportation system.”
Roach said elections are expected to go ahead for two smaller groups – flight simulator technicians and plant protection employees. Delta is not trying to include them in an election with other employees.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, also is seeking an election to represent flight attendants at Delta.
As it considers how to group employees for voting in a union election, the National Mediation Board — a federal agency – also is under pressure to change the way it counts the votes.
For many years, the board has required unions to win a majority of support among all people in the bargaining unit, whether or not they vote in the election. In essence, someone who does not vote is considered to have voted no.
On Friday, the chairs of two powerful U.S. House committees called on the board to revise the process.
“Elections across our country are based on recognizing the choice of a majority of voters who participate in the election,” George Miller, chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and Jim Oberstar, chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, wrote to the board.
“Non-votes are not counted as favoring one outcome or the other. This should be the practice of the NMB as well.”
Miller and Oberstar said the voting procedure is not outlined in the Railway Labor Act – which governs transportation – and the board has the ability to change the process any time it wants.
For more information
See the IAM District 143 website
Related article
IAM takes steps toward a union vote at Delta Airlines