The International Association of Machinists Aug. 13 asked the National Mediation Board to declare that as a result of the merger of Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. the airlines now are operating as a single carrier for purposes of representation questions affecting about 12,500 workers in three job classifications.

The filing with NMB is the first step toward resolving representation of the airline's fleet service employees, flight simulator technicians, and plant protection workers. If NMB determines that the merger has created a single transportation system for those workers, within 14 days IAM could file union authorization cards to indicate workers' interest in representation by the union.

NMB, which controls the process of representation elections in the rail and airline industries, would order an election on IAM representation if the authorization cards show a sufficient level of support.

No timetable exists for an NMB determination about the single carrier issue.

IAM has represented some 5,000 workers in the three job classifications at Northwest Airlines from before the October 2008 merger. Another 7,500 Delta workers in those job classifications do not have union representation.

IAM Organizing Campaign Began Before Merger.

“Any benefits from the merger between Delta and Northwest must be shared with employees,” Robert Roach Jr., IAM general vice president, said Aug. 13 in a statement. “The airlines' bankruptcies were extremely difficult for employees and their families. The Machinists union can help these workers regain what was taken in bankruptcy and protect them as Delta navigates through a turbulent industry.”

IAM has conducted an organizing campaign among these workers since October 2007, a union spokesman told BNA Aug. 13. The union will have to have a showing of interest from at least 35 percent of the combined group in order to satisfy NMB's rules for holding a representation election. However, IAM does not have to get signed cards from the members it currently represents.

In late July, the Association of Flight Attendants-Communications Workers of America similarly asked NMB to declare that the Atlanta-based airlines operate as a single carrier for the combined carriers' approximately 21,000 flight attendants (23 LRW 1211, 7/30/09). NMB has not yet ruled on the AFA-CWA request.

After the Department of Justice approved the merger of largely nonunion Delta and Northwest in October 2008, IAM and AFA-CWA vowed to “fight to ensure that workers at the combined airline will be protected by the guarantees that can only be found in a union contract” (22 LRW 1569, 11/6/08).

Delta Aug. 13 issued a statement welcoming IAM's filing with NMB. “We've said since 2008 that our employees deserve to have the issue of union representation resolved quickly, and while we are pleased that more of our people finally will have an opportunity to decide whether or not the union is right for them, we are disappointed and quite puzzled that the IAM is seeking to delay resolving representation for approximately 20,000 other Delta people in workgroups covered by the same NMB certification,” Mike Campbell, executive vice president of human resources, said in the statement.

IAM also represents Northwest's 7,000 passenger service employees, stock clerks, and office and clerical workers. The union plans to file for single carrier declaration for Delta workers in those classifications “in the not too distant future” as soon as IAM believes the combined carriers clearly operate as a single carrier for those job categories as well, union spokesman Joe Tiberi told BNA.

Tiberi said the company recently shared its integration and operations plans with the union, making it clear the carriers operate as a single carrier for the ground service workers, prompting the Aug. 13 NMB filing.

Multifront IAM Communications With Employees.

Upon making the NMB filing, IAM sent e-mails to Delta and Northwest employees and sent letters to their homes. In addition, IAM organizers at all airline locations are holding face-to-face meetings with workers, Tiberi said. The union also has a Facebook page on the organizing campaign.

In IAM's communications to Delta/Northwest employees on the union's website, Stephen M. Gordon, president/directing general chair of District 143 told workers: “Sisters and Brothers, this is our historic moment. This is our chance to win change that we can believe in. With today's announcement, each and every member and the membership of tomorrow must become engaged in the upcoming representational election as a prelude for positive negotiations--a process that allows us to control our collective destiny.”

IAM's main focus at its transportation conference in New York the week of Aug. 16 will be the organizing campaign at Delta, Tiberi said. The union also will hold a rally in Times Square Aug. 19 geared to support for the Delta/Northwest representation campaign.

Delta/Northwest employs about 76,000 employees. The Machinists union represents more than 110,000 airline workers in North America, including 12,000 Northwest fleet service, customer service, office and clerical, flight simulator technicians, stock clerks, and plant protection employees.

NMB representatives were not available for comment.

Copyright 2009, The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.