Delta would give workers a voice

Delta Air Lines Inc. employees would get a chance after a merger to share their views about how to blend in another carrier's work force, Delta's chief executive officer Richard Anderson said Friday.

Anderson's comments came as Delta's flight attendants prepare to vote on whether to unionize, and unions representing flight attendants and mechanics at Northwest Airlines Corp., based in Eagan, Minn., said they oppose a merger because it could lead to job cuts.

Delta, the third-largest U.S. carrier, is in merger talks with Northwest, people including the Northwest pilot union have said. The combination would surpass AMR Corp.'s American Airlines as the world's biggest carrier.

In midst of merger talks between Delta and Northwest airlines, the timing for Delta flight attendants to unionize is perfect, says a union organizer with Northwest Airlines.

"Ironing out the details with a merger is not something done immediately," said Danny Campbell, formerly president of the Northwest flight attendants union who is assisting colleagues at Delta Air Lines in their attempts to unionize. "Their time to file right now is actually perfect."

On Thursday, Delta flight attendants submitted to the federal government's National Mediation Board requests to hold an election among all of Delta's 13,000 flight attendants over whether to be represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (Communication Workers of America). The election will be held after the NMB verifies 35 percent of workers have signed request cards, typically 60 to 90 days after they're submitted.

While Delta is not publicly commenting on any mergers beyond saying that a committee was assembled to study mergers in November, the company's management denies counters claims of low pay and compensation.

An employee team would "be involved in any sort of integration process," Anderson said Friday in his weekly message to workers. "Front-line employees would have peace of mind knowing you have seniority protection" in a merger, he added.

Some workers have "voiced concerns" since Delta's November announcement of a board committee to study mergers, Anderson said.

A top consideration for Delta directors is whether a merger would "allow us to do things for employees that couldn't be accomplished otherwise, or as quickly" such as industry- standard wages, Anderson said.

Northwest Airlines employees are unionized, and unions representing 9,500 flight attendants and mechanics said Friday they would object any merger that would risk job loss.