MEC Archives

A joint campaign has been set up and a Committee of Northwest & Delta flight attendants (C3) are in place to achieve a successful organizing campaign, to win union representation for the Delta and Northwest combined flight attendant group at the ‘new’ Delta. Our ‘50 State Strategy’ to win this vote requires flight attendant volunteers in every state where Delta and Northwest flight attendants live. To join us, please visit the Join The Campaign page of our website. 

October 2, 2008
Washington, DC - The National Mediation Board (NMB) ruled in a 2-1 decision this week that it would ignore the numerous charges of interference by Delta Airlines management, filed by the Association of Flight Attendants – CWA, AFL-CIO with the NMB, that occurred during a recent representational election by the airlines flight attendants. The ruling was made by the three-member panel of presidential appointees that forms the NMB.  One member of the NMB issued a strong dissent saying that an investigation is warranted. The NMB is the federal agency charged with oversight on union representation elections and contract negotiations in the aviation industry under the Railway Labor Act (RLA).

In yet another failure of a government regulatory agency to hold a corporation accountable, the NMB refused to investigate any of the numerous allegations of misconduct by Delta management, said AFA-CWA International President Pat Friend. Despite very specific and an overwhelming number of instances of management intimidation and interference with the right of employees to join a union, the majority of the NMB decided to accept Delta management’s denial of having done any of the things their flight attendants witnessed, said Friend. This NMB has forgotten its stated mission: to promote and protect effective collective bargaining and representation; and has once again sided with corporate America to deny workers the right to a voice in their workplace. It is long past time to hold this agency accountable for their support of the corporate agenda.

The NMBs policies and conduct regarding its oversight responsibility for aviation union representation elections was the subject of an intense Congressional hearing last week. Despite the many serious questions from congressional leaders regarding the NMBs conduct it continues to violate its mission and fails to protect the right of workers to choose union representation without the interference, influence or coercion of the boss, said Friend.

In his dissenting opinion, NMB Member Harry Hoglander recommended that an investigation of the charges be conducted. By failing to direct such an investigation, wrote Hoglander, the Board majority has abrogated their duty under the Railway Labor Act (RLA). The RLA governs labor-management relations in the aviation industry.

AFA-CWA will pursue all available avenues to ensure the Northwest and Delta flight attendants have the opportunity for a fair election at the new Delta Airlines.

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill.  More than 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world’s largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at http://www.afanet.org.