Washington D.C., June 27, 2019— The National Mediation Board (NMB) today refused to investigate the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ (IAM) election interference complaint filed on behalf of workers at Delta Air Lines. The IAM filed the complaint on May 15, 2019.
Click here to view the NMB response
The NMB claimed that the agency did not have jurisdiction to investigate the IAM’s interference claims because a representation election has not yet occurred. Per the NMB’s own Representation Manual, the federal agency has the right to investigate pre-election interference complaints in extraordinary situations.
“The NMB’s refusal to investigate is outrageous, but completely expected,” said IAM General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “It has become standard course for the NMB to look the other way when Delta gleefully tramples workers’ rights. By refusing to act, the NMB is saying that Delta firing workers for supporting a union election is an ordinary way of doing business, and therefore not worth an investigation. Once again, the American worker is the victim of corporate attacks, but now with a government agency as its accomplice.”
The NMB also refused to take action after Delta interfered in previous elections for Delta flight attendants and ramp workers.
“This complaint, and its predictable NMB response, was a necessary step before the Machinists Union could move our defense of Delta employees to another arena,” said Pantoja. “We will be relentless in our campaign for justice for Delta workers.”
The IAM is the world’s largest airline union, representing more than 110,000 airline employees in North America. For more information about the IAM/Delta campaigns visit iamdelta.net and dalramp.org.
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