Union puts the brakes on voting at Delta

A union hoping to represent flight attendants at Delta and Northwest airlines has halted the process of union elections.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA announced Tuesday in a statement that it has halted the process that would lead to employees voting over whether to unionize. The union has done so in anticipation of an election change under consideration by the National Mediation Board, which addresses labor-management disputes for railroads and airlines, that would make unionization easier, the statement said.

Currently, when a union vote occurs, workers who don't vote are counted as "no" votes. The proposed change would just count "yes" and "no" votes that employees cast and not take into account people who don't vote.

Delta has a hub at Salt Lake City International Airport.

Delta flight attendants are not unionized, but Northwest flight attendants are. Delta sealed its deal to acquire Northwest in October 2008.

Last week, the machinists halted the election process for baggage handlers.

"As the largest private-sector union election this year, we want this election at Delta Air Lines to occur under the new democratic procedures and therefore are withdrawing our single transportation application," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International president.

Mike Campbell, Delta's executive vice president of human resources and labor relations, said he wasn't surprised by the AFA-CWA's move. Campbell said he believes some members of the mediation board wanted to delay the election, but they couldn't delay it any longer and had AFA-CWA drop the request.

"Sadly, our flight attendants are trapped in a big labor power play, where their individual interests are being disregarded," Campbell said in a statement. "This election is supposed to be about our people, not what is politically expedient for the AFA."

e-mail: lhancock@desnews.com