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- Oct 4, 2007
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Senators urge Delta to 'remain neutral' in union elections
By JIM THARPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/22/08
More than two dozen U.S. senators, all of whom have large numbers of union members in their states, are urging Delta and Northwest airlines to "remain neutral" in union elections.
The senators sent a letter to the chief executives of the two carriers, which have announced plans to merge, urging them to "demonstrate a genuine commitment to cooperative labor relations."
Specifically, the senators ask managements to stay clear of future union elections, including an upcoming vote by Delta flight attendants on whether to organize. Delta flight attendants begin voting for AFA-CWA representation Wednesday.
If the merger goes through, the two companies will also have to merge other groups of workers, including mechanics and airport agents, that are unionized at Northwest but not at Delta.
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), who led the letter effort, said he hopes the merger will not be used "as a way to eliminate the union representation" at Northwest for decades.
Northwest, based in Egan, Minn. is a heavily unionized carrier. At Delta, only pilots and flight dispatchers are unionized currently.
"Delta and Northwest Airlines should honor the loyalty and hard work of their employees by immediately offering them a seat at the table in the merger talks," Kennedy said in the letter. "No employees should have to fear that they will lose their jobs, their benefits, and even their union representation without even being given a voice in these negotiations."
The letter comes three days before AFA-CWA officials and the CEOs from Delta and Northwest are scheduled to testify before a House committee on the merger plan.
More than 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union.
Delta has successfully resisted large-scale union drives in the past. A vote by ramp workers in 2000 and another by flight attendants in 2002 failed, with organizers getting well under the required majority support for representation.
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/busine...union_0423.html
By JIM THARPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/22/08
More than two dozen U.S. senators, all of whom have large numbers of union members in their states, are urging Delta and Northwest airlines to "remain neutral" in union elections.
The senators sent a letter to the chief executives of the two carriers, which have announced plans to merge, urging them to "demonstrate a genuine commitment to cooperative labor relations."
Specifically, the senators ask managements to stay clear of future union elections, including an upcoming vote by Delta flight attendants on whether to organize. Delta flight attendants begin voting for AFA-CWA representation Wednesday.
If the merger goes through, the two companies will also have to merge other groups of workers, including mechanics and airport agents, that are unionized at Northwest but not at Delta.
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), who led the letter effort, said he hopes the merger will not be used "as a way to eliminate the union representation" at Northwest for decades.
Northwest, based in Egan, Minn. is a heavily unionized carrier. At Delta, only pilots and flight dispatchers are unionized currently.
"Delta and Northwest Airlines should honor the loyalty and hard work of their employees by immediately offering them a seat at the table in the merger talks," Kennedy said in the letter. "No employees should have to fear that they will lose their jobs, their benefits, and even their union representation without even being given a voice in these negotiations."
The letter comes three days before AFA-CWA officials and the CEOs from Delta and Northwest are scheduled to testify before a House committee on the merger plan.
More than 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union.
Delta has successfully resisted large-scale union drives in the past. A vote by ramp workers in 2000 and another by flight attendants in 2002 failed, with organizers getting well under the required majority support for representation.
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/busine...union_0423.html
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