03 November 2009

Dear Colleagues ~

This afternoon, Delta and Northwest flight attendant leaders from our joint Campaign Coordinating Committee, with the unanimous approval of your  Master Executive Council of 10 Local Presidents, made the decision to withdraw our petition for single carrier status with the National Mediation Board (NMB).    Please click HERE to read the official AFA-CWA press release. 

In a posting dated November 3rd, 2009, the NMB notified the Office of the Federal Register of its intentions to act on the request from the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO.  The TTD formally submitted a request to the NMB on September 2nd asking the Board to revise its voting procedures for representational elections by using a yes/no style ballot.  As a result of this new rule, AFA has a responsibility to withdraw its petition for single carrier status (which leads to a representational election) in order to protect the contract of NWA flight attendants and ensure that all flight attendants at Delta have the opportunity to participate in a truly fair election process instead of outdated procedures.

Current NMB rules require that 50% + 1 of eligible voters cast a ballot to determine representation. This means that employees who do not vote - for whatever reason - are automatically counted as "no" votes.  This form of voting is patently undemocratic, as the NMB notes in announcing the new rule:

"A system of compulsory voting or assigning a position to those who choose not to vote denies individuals the right to abstain from participating in an election, a right available in other democratic elections in this country," the NMB majority said.  

As your fellow flight attendants and elected AFA Officers, we fully support the Board in its decision to allow those who choose to participate in the process to have their votes counted.  Over 60 years of our collective bargaining rights are at stake in this pending election, and we believe it is our responsibility to advocate for the most equitable method of voting.  The current NMB rule of 50% +1 is more than 75 years old.  To be sure, the authors of this stipulation could never have presupposed a vast group of over 20,000 cabin crew spread across the world.  Vigorous campaigns of company-funded voter suppression were certainly not considered when this rule was drafted so long ago.  It would be unfair to put the flight attendants at Delta and Northwest under an election where the old rules apply and when more democratic rules will be in place in short measure. 

Since Delta has repeatedly said that it respects its flight attendants right to choose union representation, we fully expect that a yes/no ballot will satisfy our shared desire for the spirit of democracy.  We know you have a lot of questions.  As the timeline develops and more information becomes available, we will communicate that news to you as soon as possible.  In the meantime, stay tuned to your email from the MEC, consider signing up for our Twitter alerts (NWAAFAMEC), and check in frequently on our website, www.nwaafa.org.  

We're ready to vote, and we're excited to be at the forefront of a progressive step forward for the working men and women in our country.  In the meantime, remember our entire contract is still in effect.  Take care of each other and, when it's time, VOTE YES!  

In Solidarity,