Federal rule change push-back means further delay for Delta union vote

By Kelly Yamanouchi

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The effective date of a controversial federal labor rule change has been pushed back, further delaying a vote on labor representation at Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines in its merger with Northwest Airlines.

Delta merged with Northwest in 2008, but one of the last major issues to resolve in the deal is labor representation among highly-unionized Northwest employees and mostly non-union Delta employees.

Flight attendants and most ground workers from the two airlines are expected to vote on whether they will be represented by a union but the elections have been delayed, as the federal rule change remains pending.

The National Mediation Board, which oversees labor issues at airlines and railroads, plans to implement a new rule requiring that unions win a majority of votes from those who cast ballots, rather than from a majority of all workers eligible to vote. That could make it easier for unions to organize workers.

However, the Air Transport Association representing major airlines including Delta filed a lawsuit last week challenging the new rule. This week, the NMB agreed in court to delay the effective date of the rule change from June 10 until June 30, pending a hearing on the ATA's motion for a preliminary injunction. ATA said it is "pleased" with the delay of the effective date.

"We’d like this to have not had any delay," said Association of Flight Attendants spokeswoman Corey Caldwell. She said the union will file for an election when the rules goes into effect, but the union's campaign committee at Delta sent a letter to Delta's chief executive Richard Anderson asking for an agreement to hold the election under the new rules.