Delta Flight Attendants Union Vote Begins Today
More than 20,000 flight attendants at Delta and Northwest Airlines began voting today on forming a union with the Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA).
As in past campaigns, Delta is running an anti-union drive with fear and misinformation as the focus. But this time, the situation is different. Delta’s 2008 merger with Northwest brought in some 7,000 attendants who are already union members.
What‘s more, this election,which runs through Nov. 3,will be conducted under the National Mediation Board’s new democratic election rules that allow a majority of votes cast to decide the outcome. Under the old rules, if you did not vote, it was counted as a “No.’
”Finally our voice will be heard and fully respected under strong democratic procedures, the same way that other elections are decided in our country,” flight attendant Toni Weinfurtner says.
We are excited for the opportunity to negotiate an industry-leading contract and continue to work alongside management in building a world class airline. Delta and Northwest flight attendants have waited a long time for this day and are eager to move forward.
Last week, Senate Republicans failed to overturn the new rules. For more information and the latest news on the campaign, visit www.deltaafa.org.
12,000 Alaska State Workers Reach Tentative Contract—and More Bargaining News
Some 12,000 Alaska state workers will vote soon on a tentative contract, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,200 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
NEGOTIATIONS
Multiple, State of Alaska: The Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME and the Alaska Public Employees Association/AFT have reached tentative agreements with the state that cover 12,000 workers. The three-year contracts, if ratified by the membership, would provide annual wage increases and increased employer contributions to health care.
Flight Attendants Protest Slow Contract Talks with United
Contract negotiations are going way too slowly with United Airlines, so the Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) today is holding informational pickets at 17 different airports around the globe to protest “the failure of United Airlines management to negotiate a new contract on time.”
This from the Daily Labor Report (subscription required):
The AFA’s frustration with United has smoldered for five years, after flight attendants were forced to accept severe wage and benefit cuts as part of the carrier’s reorganization. United’s parent, UAL Corp., emerged from three years in bankruptcy with flight attendants providing $131 million in labor savings annually. Under the 2005 agreement, flight attendants’ hourly wages were trimmed 9.5 percent and their defined benefit pension plan was jettisoned to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. In the intervening years, flight attendants watched wave after wave of layoffs as United realigned operations in response to changing demand for air travel.
