Democracy Wins! Let's Vote!

 
 
The National Mediation Board (NMB) today issued a final rule to change its voting procedures so that the majority of votes cast will decide whether transportation employees will have representation, the same way that every other election in this country is conducted. For Delta flight attendants, it was a triumph of democracy over years of voter manipulation by the company.
 
The decision was published in the Federal Register, where it must remain for 30 days before the new ballot procedure takes effect.  Upon its effective date, AFA will file a petition seeking the NMB's determination that Northwest and Delta are a single transportation system for purposes of flight attendant representation.  Once that finding is made, the NMB will schedule an election.
 
"This is the moment we've been waiting for, and we're thrilled," said Marianne Bicksler, who was among three Delta flight attendants who testified for the new rules at a public hearing held by the NMB in December. "Now we can look forward to a truly democratic vote, the opportunity to gain representation by Delta AFA and to begin the process that will lead us to a world class, industry-leading contract."
 
Bicksler, a former supervisor, told the NMB that Delta in the past has used the NMB's previous "50 percent plus 1" procedure to foil flight attendants' desire for representation, urging employees to tear up their ballots and not vote. In those prior elections, nonvoters were counted as "No" votes.
 
Janette Rook, the NWA AFA MEC president who also testified before the NMB, said the ruling is a huge relief to union members. "The former Northwest flight attendants have always had representation, and we have been very concerned that Delta would take this right away from us by depressing the vote across the system. Now every vote will be counted, and non-votes won't."
 
The Delta AFA campaign is expanding its efforts, reaching out to flight attendants systemwide, to explain the benefits of representation and securing an industry-leading contract.
 
"You can expect to see more of us at visibility tables throughout the system," said Delta flight attendant Paul Tanner. "Let's talk about how we can use this opportunity to improve our careers and our profession."
 
 
 

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