Motion For Single-Carrier Status Forces Unions' Hands

Unions representing workers at the former Northwest Airlines may be rushed into new certification votes before they're ready.

As part of its agreement with Delta, the Air Line Pilots Association, which represented pilots at both Delta and Northwest before they were merged, was bound to submit an application to the National Mediation Board, seeking a determination that Delta and Northwest now constitute a single carrier. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that application has now been made.

Pilots were the only major group of employees at Delta with union representation, but the Northwest workforce was highly unionized. In May, flight attendants at Delta voted against joining the union representing their counterparts at Northwest... but that fight, and many others, appears to be far from over.

If the NMB rules the combined carrier is, indeed, one carrier, those other unions will have just 14 days to show the support of at least 35 percent of employees in any craft for a union representation vote. If they can't, the unions might lose their rights to represent members from the old Northwest.

It's reasonable to assume Delta would love to see that happen. The company has made its own filing of support for the determination of single-carrier status, saying its important for integration of seniority lists to begin promptly. The company is also offering non-union employees raises on January 1, the same day union raises take effect.

The International Association of Machinists and The Association of Flight Attendants both say they will file protests. IAM VP Robert Roach contends, "We would be forced into an election before the employees have an opportunity to see what the combined carrier is like."

The controversy follows aggressive rhetoric from the IAM on October 29, in reaction to the approval of the merger by the US Department of Justice.

The union, which represents ground workers who have been employed by Northwest Airlines, issued a statement which threatened, "The days when Delta could ride roughshod over their employees is coming to an end. Delta is creating the world's largest airline. The Machinists Union will make it the world's largest unionized airline."

Looks like that bluff has been called...

FMI: www.delta.com, www.goiam.org, www.afanet.org, www.alpa.org