The board on Monday proposed changes to airline and rail election rules to mirror the rules that govern every other democratic election—the outcome is decided by the side that receives the majority of votes cast. Under current rules, every worker who does not cast a vote is counted as a vote against forming a union.
Edward Wytkind, president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, called the proposed changes are “fair and sensible.”
“The deck is currently stacked against airline and railroad workers,” Wytkind said. “The NMB is proposing new rules that would finally permit airline and rail workers to vote for unions under the same standards found everywhere else in our system of democracy. With this change, never again will workers in these industries seeking to form a union be thwarted by such un-democratic rules.”
In its notice of the proposed change in the rules, the NMB says change to majority rule will “provide a more reliable measure/indicator of employee sentiment in representation disputes and provide employees with clear choices in representation matters.”
In September, the Transportation Trades Department requested the board reform the election procedures, noting that just because a worker does not cast a vote, it doesn’t mean he or she does not want a union. It just means a worker didn’t vote. In many cases, pressure from company management keeps workers from the polls.
Following Monday’s announcement, the Machinists union – which is seeking to organize workers at Delta Airlines – said it will submit formal comments in favor of the proposed rule change.
The board said it will make a final decision on the rule change after a 60-day comment period. Comments may be submitted by mail or hand delivery to the National Mediation Board, 1301 K St., N.W., Suite 250E, Washington, D.C. 20005; by fax to 202-692-5085; by e-mail or through the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
This article is adapted from a report by Mike Hall on the AFL-CIO news site.
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The board on Monday proposed changes to airline and rail election rules to mirror the rules that govern every other democratic election—the outcome is decided by the side that receives the majority of votes cast. Under current rules, every worker who does not cast a vote is counted as a vote against forming a union.
Edward Wytkind, president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, called the proposed changes are “fair and sensible.”
“The deck is currently stacked against airline and railroad workers,” Wytkind said. “The NMB is proposing new rules that would finally permit airline and rail workers to vote for unions under the same standards found everywhere else in our system of democracy. With this change, never again will workers in these industries seeking to form a union be thwarted by such un-democratic rules.”
In its notice of the proposed change in the rules, the NMB says change to majority rule will “provide a more reliable measure/indicator of employee sentiment in representation disputes and provide employees with clear choices in representation matters.”
In September, the Transportation Trades Department requested the board reform the election procedures, noting that just because a worker does not cast a vote, it doesn’t mean he or she does not want a union. It just means a worker didn’t vote. In many cases, pressure from company management keeps workers from the polls.
Following Monday’s announcement, the Machinists union – which is seeking to organize workers at Delta Airlines – said it will submit formal comments in favor of the proposed rule change.
The board said it will make a final decision on the rule change after a 60-day comment period. Comments may be submitted by mail or hand delivery to the National Mediation Board, 1301 K St., N.W., Suite 250E, Washington, D.C. 20005; by fax to 202-692-5085; by e-mail or through the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
This article is adapted from a report by Mike Hall on the AFL-CIO news site.
Related articles
In anticipation of change, flight attendants delay union vote
Machinists Union withdraws petition for Delta Airlines fleet service workers