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Rule change could ease way for airline unionization
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A U.S. labor board plans to make it easier for unions to organize workers at carriers including Delta Air Lines Inc., people familiar with the matter said.
The proposal, to be announced in coming days, would let workers form unions with a majority approval of those voting, according to the people, who asked not to be identified. The change would overturn a standard that requires support of most workers in a class, not just those who cast ballots.
The change would be a victory for the AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. labor federation. The group asked the National Mediation Board to overhaul the voting standard last month, saying it would be more democratic.
"It's been our sincere hope that the National Mediation Board would look at our recommendations favorably," Edward Wytkind, head of the AFL-CIO's transportation trades department, said in an interview Wednesday.
A National Mediation Board spokesman didn't immediately return a call to comment.
Delta, the least unionized major passenger airline, has fought the proposed change that would make it harder for the carrier to block organizing campaigns. Pilots are the only large work group completely organized at the Atlanta-based carrier, which also operates Northwest Airlines.
"We do not believe the NMB has the authority to change these long-standing rules," Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin said in an interview. "Nor do we believe a minority union should be allowed without giving employees a similar process to vote out a union."
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA made a request to the board in July that would pave the way for an election at Delta, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers asked a month later. Both unions are AFL-CIO members.
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