Delta customer service agents closer to union election

Delta Air Lines customer service agents are closer to a representation election to determine whether their combined Delta-Northwest work force will be unionized.

The International Association of Machinists union said the National Mediation Board has confirmed that the merged Delta-Northwest is a single carrier for the purposes of labor representation among its roughly 16,400 customer service agents. That step begins a 14-day period for the union to submit enough election request cards to show interest from 35 percent of eligible workers, before an election is scheduled.

Delta ramp workers received a single carrier determination in late August, and the Machinists union submitted election request cards for those workers Tuesday. Delta flight attendants are scheduled to vote on union representation from Sept. 29 through Nov. 3.