Less That Half Of Delta Employees Represented By Unions

Following a ruling from the National Mediation Board, which lowers the bar for approving union representation, union organizers have aggressively targeted Delta Airlines employees, which have the lowest percentage of union representation of any of the major carriers.

The Wall Street Journal reports that union organizers are setting up information desks in employee lounges and visiting employees at their homes pitching union representation. Less than half of Delta's employees, which number more than 80 thousand, are unionized.

Union representation has become more of an issue since Delta acquired Northwest, which had 95% union representation before the merger. Delta and Northwest workers are still operating under separate contracts even though the two airlines have merged.

Delta management says union organizers are trying to undermine a healthy working relationship which hasn't seen a strike since 1947. Michael Campbell, head of labor relations at Delta, called it a "don't trust the management" campaign. Those hoping to organize say Delta's corporate culture began to deteriorate in 1990, when thousands were laid off during a cost-cutting drive, and was largely gone by the time the airline filed for bankruptcy in 2005, and employees suffered deep cuts in wages and benefits.

There have been reports of union organizers aggressively visiting employees homes unannounced, frightening families, and in some instances even blocking driveways. Unions have accused management of intimidating employees by asking pointed questions after talking to union representatives, also frightening families, and enforcing unreasonable dress codes.

No votes have been scheduled at Delta. The airline has mounted a legal challenge to the Mediation Board ruling which goes into effect in June, and organizers hope to have votes scheduled at the airline by this summer.

FMI: www.delta.com, www.nmb.gov