Thu, Jun 03, 2010
Less That Half Of Delta Employees Represented By Unions
Following a ruling from the National Mediation Board, which
lowers the bar for approving union representation, union organizers
have aggressively targeted Delta Airlines employees, which have the
lowest percentage of union representation of any of the major
carriers.
The Wall Street Journal reports that union organizers are
setting up information desks in employee lounges and visiting
employees at their homes pitching union representation. Less than
half of Delta's employees, which number more than 80 thousand, are
unionized.
Union representation has become more of an issue since Delta
acquired Northwest, which had 95% union representation before the
merger. Delta and Northwest workers are still operating under
separate contracts even though the two airlines have merged.
Delta management says union organizers are trying to undermine
a healthy working relationship which hasn't seen a strike since
1947. Michael Campbell, head of labor relations at Delta, called it
a "don't trust the management" campaign. Those hoping to organize
say Delta's corporate culture began to deteriorate in 1990, when
thousands were laid off during a cost-cutting drive, and was
largely gone by the time the airline filed for bankruptcy in 2005,
and employees suffered deep cuts in wages and benefits.
There have been reports of union organizers aggressively
visiting employees homes unannounced, frightening families, and in
some instances even blocking driveways. Unions have accused
management of intimidating employees by asking pointed questions
after talking to union representatives, also frightening families,
and enforcing unreasonable dress codes.
No votes have been scheduled at Delta. The airline has mounted a
legal challenge to the Mediation Board ruling which goes into
effect in June, and organizers hope to have votes scheduled at the
airline by this summer.
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