Mechanics at Atlanta-based Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a Delta Connection regional carrier, have voted to join the Teamsters union.
The Teamsters announced Monday that nearly 600 mechanics and related workers voted in the union representation election, although the number voting in favor wasn't immediately released.
The election was the first held under new National Mediation Board rules that have been expected to make it easier for unions to organize workers. The new rules require unions to win support from a majority of voters, rather than from a majority of all who are eligible to vote.
The election came asAtlantic Southeast parent SkyWest prepares to buy ExpressJet and combine it with Atlantic Southeast. The combined airline would be based at Atlantic Southeast's Atlanta headquarters. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.
According to the Teamsters, mechanics wanted union representation to improve "wages, benefits, and fairness in the workplace." Pilots, flight attendants and flight dispatchers at Atlantic Southeast are already represented by different unions.
"We’ve worked well with unions here in the past and we’re going to continue that momentum going forward with the Teamsters," Atlantic Southeast spokeswoman Kate Modolo said.
The Teamsters' aviation mechanics coalition represents mechanics and related workers at 12 airlines.
Meanwhile, thousands of employees at Atlanta-based Delta are voting or are scheduled to vote in union representation elections to determine whether the combined workforces of Delta and Northwest will be unionized. Delta acquired Northwest in 2008.
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