Flight attendants at Delta Air Lines began voting this past Wednesday, September 29, on the issue of union representation, under new rules by the National Mediation Board (NMB) that allows the majority of votes cast to determine the outcome of an election. About 20,000 Delta flight attendants will have until November 3 to decide their union fate.
In the past, attempts by flight attendants to unionize have failed. But the acquisition of Northwest Airlines by Atlanta, GA based Delta may have shifted the balance of corporate culture. The merger of the two carriers brought the addition of unionized Northwest workers. Before the merger, Delta had only pilots and flight dispatchers represented by unions, about 12% of their total workforce. Now, after the merger, unions represent about 36% of Delta's employees.
Baggage and cargo fleet service employees at Delta, totalling 14,000 workers, will have their chance to vote for union status starting on October 14. If the flight attendants and the fleet service workers win representation, more than 50% of Delta's laborforce will become union members. By comparison, unionized pilots, attendants and ground workers at American Airlines amount to 68% or their workforce. At United Airlines, that figure is 82%.
The implication are far reaching, and may lead to higher operating costs by the airline, which would be passed on to travelers in the form of higher ticket prices and fees, especially after the economy picks up.
Not all employees favor the idea of joining a union. Delta has had a non-union culture dating back to its founding on May 30, 1924, originally as Huff Daland Dusters, a crop dusting operation serving the Mississippi Delta. It assumed the name Delta Air Lines on September 13, 1928 and began carrying passengers in late 1929.
Georgia, itself, is one of the least unionized states, with 5.9 percent of Georgia workers represented by organized labor, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared with a nationwide union membership of about 12%.
The deal breaker may be the loss of scheduling flexibility, which could be impacted by union work rules. According to William Swelbar, a research engineer at MIT’s International Center for Air Transportation, "One of the things Delta has always had with their workforce is flexibility, and that drives their culture."
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Comments
There are pros and cons to any decision. To unionize or not to unionize is definitely a tough call.
A tough call for an airline worker who is far from being overworked? You pay your dues and still, if their is a job reduction, the union will not and cannot protect you! Everyone has a bad day but airline folks don't have a bad day every day! The unions will get rich at your expenses - think about it!
Dues are $43/month = $516/year. If it is an after tax payment, you will need to earn ~ $600 just to pay union dues. How many hours will it take to pay those dues? If you think a union will help you receive $600 more per year then a union might help you financially.
Think about this. You pay your dues, you may or may not get increased pay...either way the union and those who run the union get paid.
$516 x 20,000 flight attendants = $10.3 million EACH year.
Evidently you have no idea what you are talking about. You think big business really loves you! You are a small period at the end of their sentenance. Has any of the top DL brass share their salaries? Oh we love you. Thanks for making us richer next time around I will give a "golden parachute" like I have to walk away with millions of dollars. Get real if major league baseball,football etc are unionized and they have the cream of the crop. Think about it.
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