------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Feb. 14, 2002 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
FLIGHT ATTENDANTS SAY STRUGGLE CONTINUES: DELTA EXPLOITS 9/11 TO STOP UNION By Michelle Quintus Member, Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO In August 2001, the majority of Delta Airlines' flight attendants signed representation cards requesting union representation by the Association of Flight Attendants, AFL- CIO. But by the close of the vote on Jan. 30 of this year, only 29 percent had returned a ballot voting for the union-- 5,609 votes out of a potential 19,033--no longer the majority needed to win representation. What happened between then and now? A bare-knuckled anti- union campaign that included blatant exploitation of the Sept. 11 tragedy. This illegal campaign to interfere with the flight attendants' vote was decisive in discouraging flight attendants from voting in the largest union election in the airline industry. With close to 20,000 flight attendants involved, the Delta vote was also the largest private-sector union election in more than 30 years. Delta is the only major U.S. air carrier whose flight attendants do not have union representation. According to hundreds of flight attendant reports, Delta didn't just discuss the effects of the hijackings on the airline. The bosses used Sept. 11 to make flight attendants fear for their jobs if they voted for the union. "While we were grieving for the loss of our co-workers on those planes on 9/11, Delta management used our fears and anxiety against us," said Los Angeles-based flight attendant Lorraine York. "Delta illegally interfered with our rights as American workers before the terrorist attacks. But that paled in comparison to management's exploitation of our national tragedy." The bosses at Delta engaged in various tactics to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. On Sept. 12, Delta began conducting weekly conference calls that were censored, so that pro-union flight attendants were not permitted to ask questions. Other departments at Delta do not have these conference calls, only flight attendants. Delta lied to the over 3,000 laid-off flight attendants, telling them they were not eligible to vote to keep them from returning their ballots. In fact, all laid-off flight attendants were eligible to vote and were most likely the workers who most directly understood the need for a union. "Videos of our CEO played continuously in our crew rooms," said Seattle-based flight attendant Mike Trau. "He kept repeating the threats 9/11 have placed on our airline and talking about our family atmosphere, then he'd instruct us to rip up our ballots." Not returning a ballot in a National Mediation Board election is a "no" vote. Delta communications with flight attendants during the election period inextricably linked Delta's survival to defeating the union effort. These communications included: Letters and videos from senior management to the homes of flight attendants implicitly threatening them with job loss if they unionized. Supervisors illegally questioning AFA supporters, asking, "How can you support a union at a time like this?" Management constantly referring to the job losses in the industry in the wake of 9/11 and falsely promoting Delta's layoff plans as better than those at unionized carriers. One-on-one meetings where supervisors would take aside flight attendants they identified as AFA supporters and grill them on their support for the union, in many cases saying that support was anti-Delta. "Democratic elections are supposed to express the voice of the people," said AFA International President Patricia Friend. "In this election, the flight attendants' voices were silenced by fear and intimidation. Now the American government must act to punish Delta for violating the rights of its workers and silencing their voices. Delta's entire campaign focused on creating fear and uncertainty in flight attendants' minds." In October 2001, the NMB found that the flight attendant claims presented a prima facie case of illegal conduct against Delta (see www.afanet.org). But rather than take action to charge Delta with illegal conduct and provide the flight attendants with an atmosphere free from intimidation when voting, the NMB held off further investigation and hearings on the charges until after the election. Now, the NMB will begin a full-scale investigation into the charges of illegal conduct by the bosses at Delta. The NMB could set a new election, possibly changing the balloting procedures to make the balloting process less likely to be influenced by Delta's illegal conduct. Almost 50,000 flight attendants at 26 carriers joined together to form AFA, the largest flight attendant union in the world. Delta flight attendants have the right to join this powerful union of workers free from intimidation and fear of their bosses. This struggle is far from over. In fact, it has just begun. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
