Union seeks election delay, angering Delta

By Kelly Yamanouchi

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Association of Flight Attendants union withdrew its application for an election at Delta Air Lines, saying it wants to wait for a proposed rule change that would make it easier for the union to win.

The move throws another twist into Delta's effort to resolve labor issues raised by its merger with Northwest Airlines, an effort now entangled with a political battle at the National Mediation Board over the new elections rule.

"The AFA’s actions are appalling," Mike Campbell, Delta's executive vice president for human resources and labor, said in a written statement. "Sadly, our flight attendants are trapped in a big labor power play, where their individual interests are being disregarded."

Delta closed its merger with Northwest more than a year ago, and had hoped to resolve labor issues earlier this year. Delta, the least unionized major airline, faces two eventual elections to determine if the combined Delta-Northwest flight attendant and ground worker groups want representation. They were unionized at Northwest.

But the proposed change in the federal rules for airline representation elections has complicated those plans.

The Mediation Board, which governs labor relations at airlines and railroads, on Tuesday published a proposed rule change that had been in the works to require that unions win a majority of votes only from those workers who cast ballots, rather than from a majority of all those eligible to vote. It will take public comments on the matter for 60 days.

The proposed change reflects a shift in the makeup of the three-member board since last year's presidential election. It now includes two former labor union leaders, who favor the change, and a former member of the Bush administration who does not.

Both the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents Northwest attendants, and the International Association of Machinists, which represents some Northwest ground workers, had filed applications for an election with the Mediation Board in recent months. The Mediation Board had not yet ruled on them.

The Machinists union withdrew its request last week, saying it was unrelated to the rule change.

AFA president Pat Friend, however, said Tuesday her union's move to withdraw was directly related to the rule change because it wants the election to occur under the new procedures.

In addition to criticizing the unions for stalling until the rules change, Delta executives have questioned whether the Mediation Board has the authority to make the change and raised the possibility of legal action. Some Republicans in Congress also have voiced opposition.