US airline cabin crew on track for unionisation

14 February 2008

Cabin crew staff at a major US airline are set to endorse union representation thanks to a sustained organising campaign.

Flight attendants at Delta Air Lines are filing union representation cards today, calling for workers to be balloted on membership of the ITF-affiliated Association of Flight Attendants (AFA). The move follows an organising campaign that began two years ago when a small group of cabin crew members started to gather workers’ signatures to help endorse representation by the union.

The union has reported that a majority of Delta cabin crew have signed in favour of AFA representation. Once it has been verified that enough staff have signed the cards, a secret ballot election will be called to establish whether there will be representation. Voting normally begins within 60 to 90 days of the cards being filed.

“Delta flight attendants have made it clear that they want a voice in their future and a legally binding contract they can count on,” said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. “Their goals are our goals and we will work together to achieve them.”

The organising effort comes amidst merger talks between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines; the ITF-affiliated Air Line Pilots’ Association, which represents pilots at the two airlines is holding out for a fair deal that will cover both groups of employees ahead of any merger announcement.

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