Delta Flight Attendants Gear Up for Election after Merger Announcement

Activists shown here in Atlanta and elsewhere use phone banks as well as one-on-one contacts to discuss issues with Delta flight attendants.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said this week's merger announcement by Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines moves Delta's flight attendants one step closer to getting union representation and a contract like Northwest's AFA-represented flight attendants. Delta's 13,400 flight attendants filed for union representation with AFA in February and begin voting next week (April 23) in a union election that runs until May 28.

"Delta flight attendants want a voice in their future and a legally binding contract that they can count on," said AFA International Vice President Veda Shook. "Top airline executives at both carriers negotiated legal agreements protecting their security, compensation and benefits," Shook noted adding: "Delta flight attendants want the same right. They're tired of depending on management to do the right thing," she said.

Kevin Griffin, president of AFA's Master Executive Council at Northwest, pledged solidarity with the Delta flight attendants. "Our top priority is to work with our Delta colleagues to preserve union representation at the merged airline and to negotiate a contract that combines the best from our Northwest contract and the best from Delta's policy manual along with raises and other improvements," he said.

Noting that, "Mergers are very difficult in the best of circumstances, often alienating front line workers who are the face of the airline," Griffin stated:  "Delta management needs to remain neutral in the Delta flight attendants' representation election and let the flight attendants decide their own futures." For more information about the campaign, visit www.deltaafa.org.

If the merger wins government approval the new airline will get Delta's name and be based at Delta's current Atlanta headquarters. Delta's top two executives would become the new airline's CEO and board chairman.

CWA President Larry Cohen is urging CWA locals, staff and retirees to work with AFA-CWA in get-out-the-vote phone banking that will be carried out in the following locations beginning April 24 and running through May 27 in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C. and Ft. Lauderdale, and running through May 11 in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Dallas/Fort Worth, and New York City. To volunteer and for more details, contact Ed Sabol at esabol@cwa-union.org.