Below wing ACS and Delta Cargo warehouse employees reject IAM representation

November 18, 2010
Delta below wing Airport Customer Service and Delta Cargo warehouse employees rejected representation by the International Association of Machinists. The National Mediation Board said Thursday that 10,593 votes were cast, representing 81% of eligible voters, with 53.6% voting against IAM representation.
This is the seventh workgroup in which representation was resolved since Delta’s merger, resulting in no union for the more than 40,000 employees in these groups. Delta’s flight attendants rejected Association of Flight Attendants representation earlier this month. Delta’s simulator technicians twice rejected IAM representation in 2010, and Delta’s meteorologists rejected union representation in March 2009. Delta’s aircraft maintenance technicians and technical writers/planners also resolved representation in early 2009, with the Northwest unions voluntarily relinquishing their premerger certifications.
“Once again Delta people have clearly stated their preference for working directly with their leaders to make Delta a great place to work for all employees and the global airline of choice for our customers,” said Mike Campbell, e.v.p.-Human Resources and Labor Relations, in a press release. “In multiple elections across many workgroups, tens of thousands of Delta employees continue to reaffirm the importance of maintaining the generations-old set of values set forth by our founder C.E. Woolman.”
Gil West, s.v.p.-ACS, said in a memo that Delta is ready to begin the process of aligning pay, benefits and work rules, and producing a single seniority list as quickly as possible.
“The actual date when we can begin this transition will largely depend on whether the IAM respects your decision or chooses to file interference claims,” he said. “We believe the IAM has no basis for filing interference, but if they do, we will not be in a position to align pay, benefits and work rules until the final resolution of representation is achieved.”
He challenged above wing ACS, customer-facing Delta Cargo and Reservation Sales colleagues to make their voices heard by voting in the upcoming Passenger Service election, which ends Dec. 7.
“To our above wing colleagues, I challenge you to beat Fleet’s turnout rate!” he said “As our Dept. 120, CGO Warehouse and IFS people have shown, your vote truly does matter. I hope you will join them in making your voice heard.”