Union to protest merger

A flight attendants union plans to rally outside Northwest Airlines’ annual shareholders meeting, saying management hasn’t discussed merger details with union leaders.

Northwest flight attendants are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants. That union lost an election to unionize Delta Air Lines flight attendants.

Northwest shareholders will vote on the proposed Delta-Northwest merger at the meeting in New York on Sept. 25, while Delta shareholders will vote at a meeting at the Georgia International Convention Center the same day. The union told members about its plans for the rally on its Web site. Delta spokesman Kent Landers said Delta communicates openly with its flight attendants.

Atlanta-based Delta and Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest plan to close their merger by the end of the year pending approval from the U.S. Department of Justice and shareholders.

The Association of Flight Attendants expects to file for another election for flight attendants at the combined carrier to vote on whether to be represented by a union. Delta has advocated its stance in favor of a “direct relationship” rather than union representation, saying it has the right to present its point of view.

Meanwhile, the International Association of Machinists, which represents ramp workers, customer service agents, reservations agents and others at Northwest, is asking its members to contact their elected representatives to voice the union’s opposition to the Delta-Northwest merger.

The machinists also asked members who will be at the Democratic National Convention in Denver this week to voice their opposition to the merger to their representatives.”We believe that a combined Northwest-Delta Air Lines company will be extremely difficult to manage, will be burdened with debt and can lead to possible failure of the combined entity,” said Joseph Tiberi, a spokesman for the International Association of Machinists.

Landers said Delta believes “this is a clear win for Delta and Northwest employees by building a stronger company.”