Federal Rule Change Makes Unionization Easy
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 195
Federal Rule Change Makes Unionization Easy
This is huge.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...ness_whatsNews
By MIKE ESTERL
The National Mediation Board overhauled a decades-old election rule to make it easier for airline and railway employees to unionize, in a sign that labor is getting a more favorable hearing at the federal agency under the Obama administration.
The rule change, which was published online Monday in the Federal Register, has been opposed by the airline and rail industries and could still face legal challenges. More than 570,000 workers are employed by railroads and airlines, more than two-thirds of whom already are unionized.
The overhaul would affect tens of thousands of workers at Delta Air Lines Inc., the world's largest airline, who are gearing up for unionization votes. Some smaller airlines with little or no unionization, including JetBlue Airways Corp., also could see organized labor get a larger foothold. Railways are more unionized, and would be less affected.
Under an interpretation of the Railway Labor Act dating to 1934, aviation and rail workers who don't vote on whether to form a union have been counted as "no'' votes. That means a union could not be approved without a full majority of employees voting yes.
Under the National Labor Relations Act governing other industries, a union can be created if a majority of all votes cast are in favor of collective bargaining. In such elections, nonvotes don't count.
The rule change by the NMB mandates that unionization votes for air and rail workers be tallied in the same manner as in other industries.
It comes after a White House appointment shifted the balance of the government agency's three-person board. Linda Puchala, a former flight attendant union leader, replaced Read Van de Water, a former Northwest Airlines lobbyist, last year. She joined Harry Hoglander, a former pilot union leader appointed in 2002.
The NMB regulates labor relations in aviation and rail.
Write to Mike Esterl at [email protected]
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...ness_whatsNews
By MIKE ESTERL
The National Mediation Board overhauled a decades-old election rule to make it easier for airline and railway employees to unionize, in a sign that labor is getting a more favorable hearing at the federal agency under the Obama administration.
The rule change, which was published online Monday in the Federal Register, has been opposed by the airline and rail industries and could still face legal challenges. More than 570,000 workers are employed by railroads and airlines, more than two-thirds of whom already are unionized.
The overhaul would affect tens of thousands of workers at Delta Air Lines Inc., the world's largest airline, who are gearing up for unionization votes. Some smaller airlines with little or no unionization, including JetBlue Airways Corp., also could see organized labor get a larger foothold. Railways are more unionized, and would be less affected.
Under an interpretation of the Railway Labor Act dating to 1934, aviation and rail workers who don't vote on whether to form a union have been counted as "no'' votes. That means a union could not be approved without a full majority of employees voting yes.
Under the National Labor Relations Act governing other industries, a union can be created if a majority of all votes cast are in favor of collective bargaining. In such elections, nonvotes don't count.
The rule change by the NMB mandates that unionization votes for air and rail workers be tallied in the same manner as in other industries.
It comes after a White House appointment shifted the balance of the government agency's three-person board. Linda Puchala, a former flight attendant union leader, replaced Read Van de Water, a former Northwest Airlines lobbyist, last year. She joined Harry Hoglander, a former pilot union leader appointed in 2002.
The NMB regulates labor relations in aviation and rail.
Write to Mike Esterl at [email protected]
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 429
NMB makes it easier for airlines to unionize
From the WSJ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...ness_whatsNews
By MIKE ESTERL
The National Mediation Board overhauled a decades-old election rule to make it easier for airline and railway employees to unionize, in a sign that labor is getting a more favorable hearing at the federal agency under the Obama administration.
The rule change, which was published online Monday in the Federal Register, has been opposed by the airline and rail industries and could still face legal challenges. More than 570,000 workers are employed by railroads and airlines, more than two-thirds of whom already are unionized.
The overhaul would affect tens of thousands of workers at Delta Air Lines Inc., the world's largest airline, who are gearing up for unionization votes. Some smaller airlines with little or no unionization, including JetBlue Airways Corp., also could see organized labor get a larger foothold. Railways are more unionized, and would be less affected.
Under an interpretation of the Railway Labor Act dating to 1934, aviation and rail workers who don't vote on whether to form a union have been counted as "no'' votes. That means a union could not be approved without a full majority of employees voting yes.
Under the National Labor Relations Act governing other industries, a union can be created if a majority of all votes cast are in favor of collective bargaining. In such elections, nonvotes don't count.
The rule change by the NMB mandates that unionization votes for air and rail workers be tallied in the same manner as in other industries.
It comes after a White House appointment shifted the balance of the government agency's three-person board. Linda Puchala, a former flight attendant union leader, replaced Read Van de Water, a former Northwest Airlines lobbyist, last year. She joined Harry Hoglander, a former pilot union leader appointed in 2002.
The NMB regulates labor relations in aviation and rail.
Write to Mike Esterl at [email protected]
By MIKE ESTERL
The National Mediation Board overhauled a decades-old election rule to make it easier for airline and railway employees to unionize, in a sign that labor is getting a more favorable hearing at the federal agency under the Obama administration.
The rule change, which was published online Monday in the Federal Register, has been opposed by the airline and rail industries and could still face legal challenges. More than 570,000 workers are employed by railroads and airlines, more than two-thirds of whom already are unionized.
The overhaul would affect tens of thousands of workers at Delta Air Lines Inc., the world's largest airline, who are gearing up for unionization votes. Some smaller airlines with little or no unionization, including JetBlue Airways Corp., also could see organized labor get a larger foothold. Railways are more unionized, and would be less affected.
Under an interpretation of the Railway Labor Act dating to 1934, aviation and rail workers who don't vote on whether to form a union have been counted as "no'' votes. That means a union could not be approved without a full majority of employees voting yes.
Under the National Labor Relations Act governing other industries, a union can be created if a majority of all votes cast are in favor of collective bargaining. In such elections, nonvotes don't count.
The rule change by the NMB mandates that unionization votes for air and rail workers be tallied in the same manner as in other industries.
It comes after a White House appointment shifted the balance of the government agency's three-person board. Linda Puchala, a former flight attendant union leader, replaced Read Van de Water, a former Northwest Airlines lobbyist, last year. She joined Harry Hoglander, a former pilot union leader appointed in 2002.
The NMB regulates labor relations in aviation and rail.
Write to Mike Esterl at [email protected]
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,227
So now you "vote" to bring in a union, and you send out voting postcards to all. Say you have 1000 people in your group. Only 100 respond, 60 yea, 40 no, and now 1000 people are unionized because 100 people actually took the time to respond.
#5
Banned
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,480
Then keeping the union out didn't matter to 900 people. Oh, well. If an issue makes a difference to you, then you should probably respond. Ignorance of current issues at your workplace is no excuse.
#6
Yes. It's basically the same way we elect a president.
#7
I mean how hard is it really to mail a ballot or make a phone call...we are literally talking about two minutes out of your life
ALPA here we(SKW) come...
#8
And that differs from any other election in this country how?
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 420
JUST SAY NO, IT IS ALPO!!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post