My coworker asked me today if I would sign a union authorization card so we can have an election to get the union in. I am nervous that the Delta might find out I have signed a card and I will get fired. Delta has made it pretty clear they hate unions. Should I be worried?
Answer: Signing a union card is one of the most protected activities a worker can engage in. Federal law says, "It is illegal for your employer to prohibit you from soliciting for a union during non-work time, such as before or after work or during break times; or from distributing union literature during non-work time, in non-work areas, such as parking lots or break rooms." It says further, "It is illegal for your employer to fire you because you join or support a union."
Delta will never see your card-ever. The card will be sent to IAM Headquarters and then given to the National Mediation Board for verification when we file for an election. It is illegal for the NMB to show your card to your employer.
To trigger an election 35% of all Delta Fleet Service employees must sign authorization cards. Delta employee volunteers plan to gather far more than that and file for an election quickly. An election will generally take place within 60 days of certification of 35% interest.
Previous Questions
Answer: According to Delta's calculations, industry average is $3,669.58 per month for a worker at the top of the pay scale. They use American, Southwest, USAirways, United, Delta, Jet Blue, AirTran and Frontier to arrive at industry average. (Source – Deltanet)
The average pay for unionized carriers on Delta's list (American, United, Southwest, USAirways) is $3,837.53 per month. Delta deducted union dues from these figures so the average is actually slightly higher.
The average for non union carriers (Jet Blue, Frontier, Delta) is $3,442.93.
American Airlines workers are voting on a new contract that will include pay raises. In addition, AirTran workers have since voted to join the IAM. As the merger with Southwest moves forward, AirTran workers will be incorporated into the Southwest pay scale. United-Continental workers will also be a settling their contract with the merged airline sometime in the near future. All of these factors will push the industry average up and the union average up even more. It pays to be union.
Click HERE for chart.
The Rebirth Of Our Union
December 30, 2011 — In the wake of a negative decision from the National Mediation Board regarding a revote, we, a diverse group of ramp workers from across the system, have constituted a steering committee to coordinate efforts to collect union authorization cards for the IAM. Our goal: Quickly collect enough cards to trigger an election for all Delta Fleet Service workers. We have already collected several thousand cards and met with success across the system.
We have also been discussing what our new union District will look like when we win. All Delta Fleet Service workers (ramp and cargo) will have an opportunity to participate in writing a new set of bylaws to govern our district.
Based on what we have heard from you so far, here are some priorities.
- Cut out all unnecessary expenses from the type of offices we have to lower pay for full time elected officers.
- Design a dues structure that can support necessary activities, but is also fair, especially for lower paid workers.
- Require more accountability from our leaders. Elect full time officers who serve in the area they were elected.
- Institute a transparent financial system both accessible and easy to understand for all members.
- A culture of solidarity; build strong ties with other airline workers and workers in general. This will be the key to our survival.
If we keep our focus and stand together we can gain benefits for all Delta workers, a secure retirement, protection from outsourcing and job loss, fair and supportive work rules, a secure safety net when injured or sick, a voice on the job. If this sounds like something you want to be part of, we invite you to participate in creating this kind of future for all of us.
| Kerry Bevan SLC |
Jim Gifford CVG |
| Melwood Brown DTW |
Jay Robinson—Victor Rossi JFK |
| David Ardinger LAX |
Roy Moen MEM |
| Kip Hedges MSP |
Wayne Perez PDX |
| Soup Campbell—Felix Maghee—Stan Smith ATL |
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January 19, 2012 — A large percentage of Delta Air Line employees are now Ready Reserve. This program provides cheap labor for Delta, and little for the employee. Here is the kind of future we envision for Ready Reserves if we have a union:
- A future that provides all Ready Reserve employees with insurance, vacation, PPT days, OJI, and all the other benefits that permanent workers enjoy.
- A future where every day worked counts toward all raises covered within the regular Delta pay scale.
- A future where Ready Reserve workers do not have to take a pay cut for going full time.
- A future where Ready Reserves are able to swap or trade with any permanent employee.
- A future where the only difference between Ready Reserve and permanent employees is the number of hours worked.
It is not acceptable to keep employees in a temporary category when it is obvious to everyone their services are actually needed permanently.
Let's Applaud Those Not Afraid To Stand Up For Their Rights
January 14, 2012 — With Martin Luther King's birthday here, it's important 
to recognize the role the Memphis sanitation workers played in American history......and how it pertains to our struggle here at Delta. Let's applaud those not afraid to stand up for their rights.
The Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike of 1968: A Strike that Changed History
When people strike, it is one way for them to express their feelings about unfair treatment in an organized and political way. A strike can be carried out both violently or peacefully among those involved. The reasons for a strike can vary and the outcome is not always what the strikers were looking for. In the case of the Sanitation workers in Memphis, who lacked a union, dignity, proper salary, and fair racial treatment, a strike seemed necessary. The 1968 Memphis Sanitation workers strike was significant to the history of civil and workers' rights in the United States.
The Memphis Sanitations workers strike began from three main factors; poor working conditions, racism, and a horrible accident. First, the working conditions for the Memphis sanitation workers were not suitable for any human being. The workers had to do excessive manual labor, in disgusting and dangerous conditions. The job was overly demanding. Sometimes the workers would have to stay past their eight-hour shifts and receive no overtime pay. The workers' jobs were threatened if they did not get all of their work done, so they had to stay if they wanted to keep their jobs. Second, the black workers were not treated the same way that white workers were through the job's treatment of employees to their salaries. For one example, January 31st was a rainy day, and the city sent home 22 black sewer workers and allowed the white workers to remain at the job and get paid for the full day.
Keeping The Union Out At Any Cost
January 11, 2012 — We need to be extremely clear in our understanding 
of what Delta Air Lines management is doing right now. In an interview on FOX News last year, Richard Anderson said that Delta would "win the union representation elections no matter what."
Now we know what he meant. Delta used all its political power to cause a log jam in Congress around the FAA Reauthorization Bill. This log jam cost tax payers $400 million in lost revenue when the FAA was shut down. Under the threat of further shut downs, they then leveraged that power to deny Delta front line employees a revote because of Delta interference in our elections. The "compromise" that was reached caused the NMB to write an opinion favorable to Delta.
Being A Union member Provides A Clear Advantage in the Areas of Overtime, Sick Leave, and On-The-Job Injury Pay and Protections
January 3, 2012 — Union employees earn top rates for working overtime. Contract provisions provide for overtime equalization, eliminating favoritism, and giving the opportunity for ALL workers to increase their income in a fair and impartial way.
Union members earn more sick leave than their non-union counterparts; and are able to roll over more accrued sick time and receive higher sick leave bank maximums.
Workers in a union are provided with better protection when suffering an injury on the job. The compensation for on-the-job injuries is disbursed at a higher rate, and is received earlier and for a longer period of time. These benefits provide less financial impact and worry for the employee.
Transitioning Forward
January 3, 2012 — Starting January 7th we will begin to donate 120 hour per year if you work an early morning 5:00 AM or any PM shift. This is 
thirty minutes per day away from your family. Three hour day off OT, or sit for two hours at the end of your shift for free, and then you can work for 3 more. Forty hour work week.
Part-time employees were given fifty percent credit toward pay raises. This would be equivalent to a twenty one year top out.
Attendance reliability is now up to your PL's standards. They will also charge you for a LOA or Bereavement. What else have we given up that we do not know about? The $21.17 per hour is quickly shrinking.
Sign an A-card today! There is no time to waste. Let's stop from completely self-destructing.
Federal Laws Protect Your Right To Organize
Any reprisals by the company for doing so are illegal
As we move forward in our movement to "Take Back Our Family" there have been concerns about employee rights in regards to the organizing drive, the signing of A-cards, and the fear of reprisals by 
the company towards those employees involved.
Your rights are guaranteed under the National Labor Relations Act. You have the right to be involved in bringing a union to your work place, and solicit the signing of A-cards from your fellow employees; as long as you follow the stipulations designated under National Labor Relations Act.
Under the National Labor Relations Act, it is illegal for your employer to:
- Prohibit you from soliciting for a union during non-work time, such as before or after work or during break times; or from distributing union literature during non-work time, in non-work areas, such as parking lots or break rooms.
- Question you about your union support or activities in a manner that discourages you from engaging in that activity.
- Fire, demote, or transfer you, or reduce your hours or change your shift, or otherwise take adverse action against you, or threaten to take any of these actions, because you join or support a union, or because you engage in concerted activity for mutual aid and protection, or because you choose not to engage in any such activity.
- Threaten to close your workplace if workers choose a union to represent them.
- Promise or grant promotions, pay raises, or other benefits to discourage or encourage union support.
- Prohibit you from wearing union hats, buttons, t-shirts, and pins in the workplace except under special circumstances.
- Spy on or videotape peaceful union activities and gatherings or pretend to do so.
Delta Air Lines promises employee protections for organizing under its', "Policies Regarding Advocacy Activity on Delta Premises".
If you believe your rights or the rights of others have been violated, you should contact the NLRB promptly to protect your rights, generally within six months of the unlawful activity. You may inquire about possible violations without your employer or anyone else being informed of the inquiry. Charges may be filed by any person and need not be filed by the employee directly affected by the violation. The NLRB may order an employer to rehire a worker fired in violation of the law and to pay lost wages and benefits, and may order an employer or union to cease violating the law. Employees should seek assistance from the nearest regional NLRB office, which can be found on the Agency's website: www.nlrb.gov.
The Tale Of Two RetireesNovember 2011 — This is the story of two Delta employees Bob and Bill, both of whom are 60 years old and have 35 years of seniority. 'More... |
Keeping The Union Out At Any CostJanuary 11, 2012 — We need to be extremely clear in our understanding of what Delta Air Lines management is doing right now. In an interview on FOX News last year, Richard Anderson said that Delta would "win the union representation elections no matter what."More... |
Special Edition: Ready ReservesSeptember 14, 2011 — The attitude here in DTW is proof we have a legitimate bid at regaining union representation, if and when, we gain a revote. In the near future, the National Mediation Board (NMB) will render their decision. More... |
Let's Applaud Those Not Afraid To Stand Up For Their RightsJanuary 14, 2012 — With Martin Luther King's birthday here, it's important to recognize the role the Memphis sanitation workers played in American history......and how it pertains to our struggle here at Delta. Let's applaud those not afraid to stand up for their rights. More... |
Transitioning forwardJanuary 3, 2012 — Starting January 7th we will begin to donate 120 hour per year if you work an early morning 5:00 AM or any PM shift. This is thirty minutes per day away from your family. More... |
LAX Facts: Monsters and GoblinsOctober 28, 2011 — When we were children, certain adults delighted in scaring the daylights out of us with stories of monsters and goblins, lurking in the shadows or under our beds, ever ready to snap off a toe or dangling arm as we slept.More... |