“In spite of opposition from Delta Air Lines, the National Mediation Board (NMB) has scheduled the first union representation election following the merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines,” said International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. following the NMB’s announcement of a union representation election for nearly 100 of Delta’s flight simulator technicians (Sim Techs). “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.”
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. Sim Techs, based in Minneapolis, MN and Atlanta GA operate and maintain Delta’s flight simulators.
More information about the Delta Sim Tech election is available at www.iam143.org.
