Union Claims Delta "Compromised The Secrecy Of The Ballot"

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) filed formal interference charges with the National Mediation Board (NMB) against Delta Air Lines management on Tuesday, alleging unlawful conduct during the recent flight attendant representation election.

The union contends that Delta management compromised the secrecy of the ballot by urging flight attendants to vote on company-controlled work computers that could track whether they clicked on the NMB's Internet voting site. In addition, it says hundreds of Delta/Northwest flight attendants have reported coercive and unfair methods used by management to influence the results of the recent union election. Feedback includes reports of the company's anti-AFA literature, excessive supervisor surveillance and meddling, and repeated supervisor phone calls to flight attendant homes telling them to vote.

"Delta and Northwest flight attendants deserve the opportunity to freely participate in an election without being intimidated by management and heavy-handed efforts to keep them from gaining a voice," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. "Delta management launched the largest anti-union campaign in history and spared no expense in attempting to destroy the collective bargaining rights that Northwest flight attendants have worked to maintain for over 60 years. We now call on the NMB to conduct an exhaustive investigation of these charges and hold Delta executives accountable for their actions."

If the NMB finds sufficient evidence that election interference occurred, it can order a new election.  On November 3, the NMB counted 9,216 votes in favor of union representation for Delta flight attendants and 9,544 votes against.

FMI: www.afanet.org