Flight attendants’ Delta case rejected

The National Mediation Board has dismissed allegations by the Association of Flight Attendants that Delta Air Lines interfered in its May union election.

The union lost the election to unionize Delta flight attendants.

With Delta expecting to close its proposed merger with Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest Airlines by the end of the year, the union plans to seek another vote by flight attendants at the combined carrier.

The mediation board determined that the allegations are unsubstantiated, do not amount to interference or are isolated incidents.

Board member Harry Hoglander dissented from the majority’s decision, stating that the union has established a prima facie case of election interference and that the board should conduct an investigation.

Delta said it was pleased with the decision to dismiss the allegations.

Association of Flight Attendants international president Patricia Friend said “we strongly disagree” with the board’s decision.

She said the flight attendants union also has filed a complaint with the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development against Delta Air Lines regarding the election.