I am a Delta ramp agent at JFK Airport and I'm really confused about the whole union thing. Last couple of weeks I saw union people (IAMAW) waiting in front of the employee parking 67 advertising their services.
Is it the Union option good for me and my co-workers is it good for Delta as a whole, short and long term? Somebody said GM went bankrupt because of their union really. Is it a union just a middle man who lowers the efficiency and competitiveness of business and eventually the company goes bankrupt?
Please guys let me know your experience and opinion? Thank you for the help.
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Thanks for asking questions! A little background about unions might be important here... a union is a group of people coming together to form a group/union in order to have a "voice". I think a union is an amazing thing. The US government is a union....remember when we were kids; every morning at school saying "one union under God, indivisible.."? Creating a union means that you have a say in what happens to your career. It gives you a legally binding contract with work rules/ pay etc.. spelled out so that it can't be changed at will by your management. It is a GREAT thing to have! Keep in mind though that a union IS it's members...so ask your co-workers from NWA what a union is all about. Question, question, and get the facts! If someone tells you they are against unionization....ask them why. As far as GM and bankruptcy... companies do not go bankrupt because of unions. In fact, unions depend on their company succeeding and thriving. What good is a union without a company to work for? A union should have the best interests of their co-workers AND their company at heart. That is why when a company goes through a bad financial situation they ask their unions their opinions and "negotiate" any needed concessions. It's better to be asked than to be told. It's a democracy vs. a dictatorship. I believe that unions are a great thing and that you should vote to have one, but continue to ask and get facts so that you and your fellow Delta co-workers vote with confidence. Vote to have a voice in your career! Vote to gain the knowledge that will give you power!The AFA supports the IAM, good luck to all of you; we're with you....and we're with Delta!
Also keep in mind that binding contract has little wiggle room - once you're in, you're in. Contract says three stikes, and you're out. That's it... no exceptions based on circumstance - management has to follow the contract and that's not always a good thing. The dues will be deducted whether you support what the union has agreed to with the company or not.
The most important thing is to think about your Delta history. Do you feel you have a good relationship with management? Do you feel you (and your work group) has been treated fairly based on all circumstances? (That question is not about liking the outcome but was the outcome fair.) Do you trust your leadership?
If you can answer yes to some or all of those questions, ask yourself why you need a union to be an in-between...
A union often creates more friction and complexities within a company that put it at a disadvantage versus other companies in its Industry. Delta has been successful and well managed with out unions (except pilots) since its establishment. That is exactly what makes Delta a better place to work: it's great relations between employees and management. Why would you want to put a middle man between you and your employer. And also have to pay dues to someone who is "looking after you?"
Just to be clear... a union is not a third party or an in between...it is YOU the employees. And we all know that in the past Delta has been great to their employees and I applaud that. However, the majority of management is now from NWA....if you don't believe it; look it up. This is not the past, this is the future we're talking about....a whole new playing field.
Machinists, attendants may face fight at Delta
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE57L03S20090822
NEWS FROM DELTA.COM
Delta responds to NMB: Employees deserve free choice on union
Delta on Wednesday responded to the National Mediation Board’s request for comment on recent filings by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) to resolve representation only for simulator technicians and fleet service employees (Airport Customer Service below wing and Delta Cargo warehouse workers).
In its responses, Delta commented on two requests from the NMB: whether Delta and Northwest are a single carrier and how workgroups should be classified for representation purposes.
In its filings, Delta said that Delta and Northwest are a single carrier for representation purposes for all employees, and outlined the progress achieved in the integration. Delta also noted that the NMB determined in January that Delta and Northwest were a single carrier for pilots, flight dispatchers and meteorologists.
Delta’s response to the NMB also outlined the company’s belief that the Railway Labor Act and the NMB’s procedures do not allow the IAM to carve out ramp and cargo warehouse employees and still keep representing the pre-merger Northwest employees in ACS above wing, reservations and office/clerical.
The company’s filing noted that the IAM also has inexplicably left out the TechOps Stores workgroup, who at pre-merger Northwest were covered under the same agreement as ACS below wing.
“We continue to be troubled and disappointed with the IAM’s efforts to leave 20,000 Delta employees in limbo. These employees also have a right to a free choice regarding representation,” said Mike Campbell, e.v.p.-HR and Labor Relations. “The IAM’s attempt to resolve representation for only a portion of the employees they represented pre-merger makes a mockery of the NMB’s processes. It is time for the IAM to end the gamesmanship and give our employees the choice they deserve.”
Separately, Delta noted that simulator technicians typically are considered part of the mechanic and related craft of class for representation purposes, based on research that shows the NMB has consistently ruled in this manner since at least 1965.
A union is a group of people coming together to support each other and the company they all work for. It is the desire of ALL union members to make their company the best in their respective industries. A true union member wants to be proud of his/her company and the union that helps the company become successful. We the workers know more about the job we perform than the executives do, thus we can offer suggestions through bargaining that can effect changes and improvements. through that same bargaining we should be compensated for productivity gains. All employees should have a procedure to air grievances and protest disagreeable decisions by our superiors. Please consider this, if we help the company make money we should share in the gains in the form that we choose.
Every one knows that you do not kill the goose that laid the egg.
www.iam143.org
www.locallodge141.com
Get all your information to make your own decision. Delta says they want to take the best of both companies to create one great airline. The union contract allows me to accrue sick time - unlimited. 6 weeks of vacation. A voice in the workplace. On the job injury accrual time. A union is an amazing thing if you can research, spread the word, sign an A-card. The people you see on the curb, or in a parking lot handing you information are all employees , reservations, customer service and ramp. If the company is so willing to let you make a choice why don't they let us all in?? Stay informed and ask your own questions. I love my union and have a better benefits package and job security because of it!
We are not a middle man or anything like that. The union are the employees as a whole. We don't created friction like one of you said. We make sure that the company follows the collective bargaining agreement that was voted in by whole membership.We would never negosiated a contract that would put the company in bankrutcy the company those that to themself by people like Richard Anderson and company making millions of dollars at our expense. Google Richard Anderson it will teel you his history back to Frank Lorenso's days. Google Mike Campbell Senior VP Labor Relations Delta co-founder of FORD-HARRISON on of the bigguest anti-union law firm in the country. We tha iam represented nwa employees for the IAMAW have unlimited accruals when it comes to sick time, oji(on the job injury) accruals, 6 weeks max vacation, scope that protects our jobs. read for yourself at iam143.org or iam2763.org
Just a friendly advice, NOTHING the union says is guaranteed; EVERYTHING has to be negotiated in a contract and if you really think about it you will NOT be at the table when both companies sit to agree on terms. BOTH companies will give and take what they feel is right for each other to come out as winners. The only loser in this is the employee...Think about it.Ask the IAM why they were decertified by the boeing plant in charleston. While your at it ask them how the treat employees that dont pay union dues.
Union withdraws bid to represent some Delta workers
ATLANTA (Reuters) - The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said on Friday that it withdrew its application to hold a representation election for fleet service workers at Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N), a move the U.S. carrier called "repugnant."
In August, the machinists union asked the National Mediation Board to declare that Delta and its Northwest Airlines subsidiary operate as a single carrier with respect to fleet service, flight simulator technician and plant protection worker groups. The filing with the NMB is a step in the process leading to a union representation election.
The machinists union said in a statement that it withdrew its filing with the National Mediation Board on behalf of fleet service employees because of Delta's insistence that representation for those workers be resolved at the same time as it is for passenger service and office and clerical employees.
The machinists union has not yet sought union elections for those two groups.
Delta, which was largely non-union before acquiring Northwest last year, said the machinists union's withdrawal of its application for fleet service workers was "the continuation of a pattern of stalling resolution" of union representation for its employees.
"The timing of the IAM's action is suspicious considering it is taking place days before the NMB publishes its proposal to change the longstanding majority voting rules," Delta added in a statement.
Atlanta-based Delta was referring to an expected response by the mediation board to a request by the U.S. AFL-CIO labor federation for a rule change that would base the outcome of union elections at airlines on the majority approval of people who vote.
Currently, union elections at airlines and rail companies covered by the decades-old U.S. Railway Labor Act are decided by a majority of an entire workgroup. In practice, that means members of a worker group who don't vote are effectively counted as 'no' votes.
U.S. airline groups oppose the rule change.
(Reporting by Karen Jacobs)
http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articlemcmatch.aspx?cp-documentid=22462989>1=32023#atoolb
Check out this website and stay informed!
www.unionfreeres.com
wake up, delta employees!!! as airline workers, we practically have no rights against a company that does not treat employees equally. we are afraid to pay dues to a union but remember when we are unionized, we do not pay any dues unless we vote for a contract the union negotiates with the company. they will negotiate for higher wages to enable us to pay some of the dues. union members are paid 34% more than non-union members. if we don't have a union, we don't have any rights unless you are discriminated or disabled. that leaves us at the mercy of supervisors or managers who act as they will - with impunity!!!
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