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Northwest and Delta Flight Attendants Call For Election

Analysis

More than 20,000 Northwest and Delta Flight Attendants Eager to Vote for Union Representation

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) today asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) to declare that the Delta/Northwest merger has created a single transportation system that requires the NMB to conduct a representation election for the carriers' flight attendants. Northwest Airlines flight attendants are currently represented by AFA-CWA. Delta flight attendants are not represented by a union.

Delta flight attendant and AFA-CWA activist Marianne Bicksler said "Delta flight attendants have a long, proud tradition at the carrier and in order to preserve it, we know we need a legal voice at the bargaining table,".

Once the NMB has declared that the merged airlines are now operating as a single carrier, an election date will be set to determine if AFA-CWA will be the flight attendants' exclusive bargaining agent. The election will be among the largest ever conducted by the NMB, the federal agency charged with overseeing union elections and the collective bargaining process in the airline industry.

Northwest flight attendant and AFA-CWA activist, Rebecca Collier, said "Northwest flight attendants are eager to move forward and play an integral role in strengthening our world class airline,".

Delta and Northwest flight attendants have been working together for AFA-CWA representation over the past year. As the largest group of flight attendants at any U.S. airline, Delta flight attendants have a rare opportunity to exercise a decisive voice in the industry.

AFA-CWA International President, Patricia Friend said "Flight attendants at Delta and Northwest are determined to secure their futures and advance their profession. With AFA-CWA representation, these flight attendants will work alongside management in negotiating what is best for their careers. This election represents a tremendous opportunity for over 20,000 flight attendants,".

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. More than 50,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO.

(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 28-Jul-09

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