The National Mediation Board (NMB) has announced the dates for a union representation election for flight simulator technicians (Sim Techs) at Delta Air Lines. The NMB will mail voting instructions to eligible voters on February 3, 2010, and tabulate votes on February 25, 2010. Voting will be conducted electronically by phone and through the Internet. Nearly 100 Sim Techs are based in Minneapolis, MN, and Atlanta, GA. They operate and maintain Delta’s flight simulators.
“In spite of opposition from Delta Air Lines, the National Mediation Board has scheduled the first IAM representation election following the merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines,” said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “Delta Sim Techs now have the right to choose for themselves if they want a union to help improve their working conditions at Delta Air Lines.”
The IAM’s application was filed on August 13, 2009, but the process was delayed while Delta argued that Sim Techs should be included in Delta’s currently un-represented mechanic and related classification. The NMB rejected Delta’s claims.
“If Delta had been successful in combining Sim Techs with mechanics, Northwest Sim Techs would have lost their union contract without a vote, and Delta Sim Techs would have been denied an opportunity to make up their own minds about union representation,” said Roach. “Delta’s aggressive stance to prevent an election shows they are afraid of what their employees can achieve when acting collectively.”
