Big Breakthrough: NMB Proposes Majority Vote for Airline Worker Elections

The National Mediation Board this week proposed a rule change to bring real democracy to union elections in the airline and railroad industries.

Under the NMB proposal, workers would vote either "Yes" or "No" in a union representation election. The outcome would be determined by a majority of votes cast, just as elections for public office now are conducted.

Under the current NMB rules, workers can only win union representation if a majority of eligible workers vote and a majority of those voters want a union voice. Workers who don't participate are considered "No" votes.  

The NMB's two-member majority called the current system undemocratic. "Few if any democratic elections are conducted in this manner," the NMB said. "In our society, free choice is expressed on the basis of a majority of valid votes cast in an election. The wishes of those who take the time and trouble to cast ballots" should not be superseded by those who chose not to participate, it added.

The current system has encouraged airlines to engage in intimidation and coercive tactics to suppress turnout and keep workers from exercising their right to vote during union elections.

The rule change was praised by AFA-CWA President Patricia Friend. Employees seeking a union will now have the opportunity to have a chance for truly fair elections," Friend said. "They are excited for the opportunity for their voices and votes to be counted."

AFA-CWA has been working with flight attendants at the merged Northwest Delta Airlines to help bring union representation to the airline's 21,000 flight attendants. "Now that the NMB has announced that, for the first time in recent years, airline employees seeking union representation will have a chance for truly fair elections, flight attendants at Northwest and Delta are excited for that opportunity," Friend said. "As the largest private sector union election this year, we want this election at Delta Air Lines to occur under the new democratic procedures and therefore are withdrawing our single transportation application" that would trigger a union election. The NMB will issue its final rule after a 60-day public comment period.