Government Hearings & Documents
Our Voice On Capitol Hill
House Committee on Education and Labor
Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee
"The Proposed Delta/Northwest Airlines Merger: The Impact on Workers"
July 30, 2008
Subcommittee on Aviation
Impact of Consolidation on the Aviation Industry,
with Focus on the Proposed Merger Between
Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines
May 14, 2008, at 2:00 p.m
US Judiciary Committee Antitrust Task Force
Hearing on Competition in the Airline Industry
Thursday 04/24/2008 - 10:30 AM
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The Minnesota State Senate
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 - 10:00 a.m.
Committee on Commerce and Labor
Agenda: Continued examination of proposed sale of Northwest Airlines to Delta and its impact on Minnesota commerce and jobs
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News
Press Release: More House Testimony
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING FOCUSES ON EFFECTS THAT DELTA/NORTHWEST MERGER WOULD HAVE ON EMPLOYEES
Washington, DC – The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) testified before a Congressional subcommittee today on the effects the proposed merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines would have on the thousands of employees who are key to the combined carrier’s success and viability. Joined by experts from across the industry, AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend testified and fielded questions from members of the House Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee in order to focus
on the labor issues surrounding this merger.
“Since the merger was announced, Delta’s new management team continues to offer empty promises and reiterate hollow commitments to the employees yet refuses to put anything in writing, indicating that it is not interested in building a positive workplace culture,” said Friend. “Earlier this year, Delta management violated the rights of over 13,500 employees to freely select a bargaining representative when the carrier’s flight attendants were voting for AFA-CWA representation. Bargaining rights are paramount if Delta flight attendants are to have an opportunity to negotiate over the impact this merger will have on their work lives.”
Throughout the hearing, over a half a dozen Congressional leaders issued pointed concerns regarding Delta management’s anti-union actions and the importance of including all voices during the merger process. Several committee members also questioned Delta management’s dedication to including employees in the process as opposed to simply imposing its beliefs upon the workforce.
“For over 60 years, Northwest flight attendants have negotiated work rules, health care benefits, retirement security and health care, vacation, seniority protections and furlough protections and have all those protections in a legally binding contract. Delta flight attendants, however, only have a policy manual that can be changed by management at will. Delta flight attendants deserve better and Northwest flight attendants deserve to keep those protections that they have counted on for decades,” added Friend.
Posted by Communications on 07/30 at 09:36 PMPress Release: More House Testimony
DELTA FLIGHT ATTENDANT ELECTION
RECEIVES INTENSE SCRUTINY IN CONGRESSIONAL MERGER HEARING
Members of Congress Express Concern about Anti-Union Tactics in Historic Election
and Probe How Merger with Northwest Airlines Will Affect Employees
Washington, DC – In a Congressional hearing yesterday regarding the impact of the proposed merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, members of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Aviation grilled Delta CEO Richard Anderson on his failure to declare neutrality in Delta flight attendants’ union representation election. Delta flight attendants are in the midst of a vote seeking to become members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA). The election and the overall effects this merger would have on employees at both carriers were a major focus of the seven-hour hearing, dominating much of the question-and-answers periods.
“The Committee is right to focus attention on Delta executives’ shameful intimidation and interference in the flight attendants’ election,” said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President after the hearing. “Richard Anderson admitted that they have a clear position in this election which is the opposite of his previous claims that Delta management respects the democratic process and their employees’ decisions. Trying to keep flight attendants from voting is anti-democratic, and it is a disgrace. Delta flight attendants deserve the right to have a voice in their future and a seat at the table and we applaud the Committee for taking the time to issue their concerns. It is time for these executives to heed the calls for neutrality that have come from many of our supporters in the Congress.”
Representative Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) raised concerns regarding Delta’s voter suppression campaign as he held up his viewed copy of management’s anti-union video that has been widely distributed to all Delta flight attendants. Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) also voiced concerns regarding Delta’s “very aggressive and in your face” campaign to keep flight attendants from voting. Chairman Jerry Costello (D-IL) questioned Ms. Friend, seeking details on the specific tactics Delta executives have employed to interfere with the election. Lawmakers expressed skepticism about airline executives’ reassurances that there would be no layoffs of frontline employees and pressed for supporting evidence and written commitments.
“In today’s aviation industry, there are virtually no protections for airline workers in a merger. The only protections employees have are those that have been negotiated into their union contracts. But for non-union employees, they are left with little guarantees. Using this merger as an opportunity to destroy unions provides these airlines, and all who would follow, with an opportunity to drive down wages, work rules and benefits for all airline employees. This election among the Delta flight attendants is not just an opportunity for them to gain a voice on the job and a seat at the table – it is the ‘first line of defense’ to protect the over 60 years of collective bargaining rights for the Northwest flight attendants. Collective bargaining rights are the only protections employees have and they must be maintained at all costs,” testified Friend. Posted by Communications on 05/15 at 01:11 PM
Press Release: Senate Testimony
FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TESTIFY:
WITHOUT UNIONS DELTA/NORTHWEST MERGER POSES THREAT TO MIDDLE CLASS JOBS
Washington, DC – Yesterday before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety and Security, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) testified that the potential merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines could have devastating effects that reach far beyond economic concerns. The proposed merger threatens to initiate the unraveling of the entire industry, destroying middle class jobs in the process.
“As we stand at the edge of a great change in this industry, it is important that we begin the debate, discussion and dialogue on what kind of national aviation system we want.” said AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend. “This country has lacked a rational aviation policy since deregulation and our industry is being driven by the marketplace, leaving virtually no protections for airline workers. Delta management is trying to destroy the few protections employees do have through their collective bargaining agreements by using this merger as an opportunity to destroy unions. If management is successful, they will have the ability to remake the entire airline industry and destroy airline jobs as a stable and secure middle class career once and for all.”
Delta flight attendants are in the midst of a representation election, seeking to make AFA-CWA their union and gain a voice at the bargaining table. Since the polls opened on April 23, Delta executives have directed a coercive campaign to interfere with the flight attendants’ right to freely select a bargaining representative. They have flooded flight attendants with mountains of literature, wallpapered crew lounges with anti-union posters and are attempting to suppress the vote by through misinformation and intimidation. Management is not only using this merger as an opportunity to prevent thousands of non-union Delta employees from gaining a voice, but also setting the stage to eliminate the unions and their contracts for workers at Northwest.
“If management is successful in their goal to destroy unions, it could create a domino effect that will force even unionized carriers to match drastic cuts in order to compete. They will set industry standards back to levels we have not seen in decades. Management continues to offer their commitment to protecting the future of flight attendants, but there is a distinct and vast difference between a commitment and a contract. Non-union employees rely on a commitment that can change instantly where as union employees have commitments in writing,” said Friend.
Polls for the AFA-CWA representation election will close at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 28, 2008. Posted by Communications on 05/08 at 10:33 AM
Press Release: House Testimony
AFA-CWA TO TESTIFY AT CONGRESSIONAL HEARING
ON DELTA/NORTHWEST MERGER
Washington, DC – On Thursday, April 24 the announced merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines will come under Congressional scrutiny when the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) International Vice President Veda Shook testifies before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. AFA-CWA’s testimony will focus on the effects the pending merger between will have on flight attendants and other employees, and potential solutions to the worst aspects of the merger. Representing the over 9,000 flight attendants at Northwest, and currently conducting an election at Delta to represent the over 12,000 flight attendants, AFA-CWA will be one of the only airline employee voices at the hearing.
Flight attendant careers at Delta and Northwest, as well as those of other aviation employees, are threatened by the merger due to the fact that there are virtually no federal protections for employees in these situations. Prior to deregulation in 1978, there were many protections in place for airline workers, often called Allegheny-Mohawk Labor Protection Provisions. When the LPPs were dissolved thirty years ago, employees were left to fend for themselves and the landscape of prior airline mergers and consolidations is littered with tens of thousands of jobs that were lost as a result of layoffs, base closures and fleet reductions.
The only protections employees have today is through their individual unions and collective bargaining agreements. Over the years, AFA-CWA has been successful in negotiating modified Labor Protection Provisions throughout various contracts which has lessened the effects on flight attendants, but there is little to no protection for non-union airline employees.
While airline management continues to maintain that there will be no layoffs, they refuse to put that commitment in writing. Employees today have little reason to trust the promises made by management as most are working more hours at reduced wages due to the concessions they were forced into while their carriers were in bankruptcy over the past few years.
Posted by Communications on 04/23 at 11:53 AM