Delta mechanics rebuff union

The mechanics union at Northwest Airlines will not represent any mechanics at merger partner Delta Air Lines, after failing to garner enough support among the combined mechanics group.

Northwest mechanics were represented by the small Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which waged a 15-month strike at the carrier ending in 2006 and was smaller and weaker afterward.

AMFA said in a memo to its Northwest members on its web site that it did not collect enough authorization cards during a card drive to meet the required number to file for representation of the combined workforce. The minimum is generally 35 percent. The union filed to end its representation and the National Mediation Board accepted the request Thursday, Delta said.

The Mediation Board facilitates labor-management relations at airlines and railroads.

The mechanics union faced a steep challenge to unionize mechanics at the combined airline because the Northwest mechanics were greatly outnumbered by non-union Delta mechanics.

About 5,000 employees from Delta and 1,000 from Northwest make up the mechanics and related group, and the Northwest group includes hundreds who are replacement workers from the strike and do not pay union dues.

Northwest is heavily unionized while at Delta pilots are the only major workgroup that is unionized.

As the merger partners combine operations, unions at Northwest can file for elections to extend their representation to Delta employees. The Association of Flight Attendants and International Association of Machinists are working on representation campaigns before seeking a vote.

Delta closed its deal to acquire Northwest last October, and in January mechanics from Northwest approved an agreement to integrate seniority lists with Delta mechanics.

AMFA and Delta have also agreed to a transition commitment with Delta to bring pay, seniority and benefits of mechanics and related employees from Northwest to the same levels as Delta mechanics and related workers. The union said that move would bring the group to be called a single carrier by the National Mediation Board, which would have triggered a process to determining whether the combined Delta employees are represented by a union or not.

“To prolong the single transportation system determination any longer would be a disservice to those that we currently represent at the former Northwest Airlines,” according to the AMFA memo to its Northwest members.

Delta said union dues will be eliminated immediately. The Northwest mechanics will transition to Delta benefits starting in January 2010.