IAM’s FILING for a VOTE/ ELECTION FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW
We filed with 60% of the f/a population, an overwhelming majority.... The IAM got wind from the NMB that there were an unprecedented number of cards whose signatures did not match the signature that Delta provided. There was a real possibility that we may have dropped below the 50%+1 threshold. At that point we would have had our election deemed "not enough interest" and we would have had to wait 2 years to refile. By pulling the vote... IAM, wisely rescinded our vote...but it is only a 1 year waiting period, which started in April. The reason that this has never happened in the past is because with AFA we also filed at about 50% but we only needed a 35% threshold. It would be very unlikely to lose that many cards to not show expression of interest. Delta was the one to push this change with the rules of the NMB...50% vs 35%. They knew that they could turn this into a "fraudulent card" argument by turning in signatures that were over 30 years old. Just put a few anti people out there to write to the NMB (there were less than 10) and then put the idea in the NMB's head that this was more prevalent that it really was. Does anyone really think this is beneath Delta to do this?
The fact that NW was 35% of the total population of the merged group triggered an election automatically. There was no need for signing cards. Before, we had to get everyone to vote...and if you didn't it was considered a "no" vote. That was when the company was stating "Give it a rip". Rip your vote up and just don't vote. At this time, if you don't vote, it simply doesn't count. 97% of the total f/a group voted in the "Merger" election.
We only lost by 165 swing votes out of 22,000 f/a's! The company knows that we will win if we ever get to a vote....so they are pulling out all their cards to stop this vote and that includes stopping you from using your voice and putting seeds of doubt into your minds through their propaganda machine... George Orwell... 1984….. “Don't let them succeed”.
If you don't know what your “legal signature” is (example: middle initial, no middle initial, last name change, did I sign Tom or Thomas)… If you aren't permitted to know “what” is considered your “definitive signature”…Even the most authentic signature was “called into question” and thrown out. So many “valid cards” were discounted.
The guilt lies with our company not allowing us to know or see our legal signature and then starting the hype about counterfeit cards.
This is the first time in history the NMB compared every card to Deltas’ master signature list. We were “held to a standard” that no other group has had.
The “grand spin” put so much into question …..And if you think they don't grease the wheels in Washington at any opportunity, we need to have that conversation!
Even though there was evidence of interference, the government let it slide!
Delta will stop at nothing to keep us from forming a union. It is going to take ALL of us pulling together to make this happen. They will exploit any crack they see in our front. The people at the "anti's" site are part of that exploitation. They turn in union activists in for anything, and they do this to stop us from having a voice. Delta punishes the union activists and yet, for the same offense on the anti-side, there is no punishment or acknowledgement that there was ever any wrongdoing. We do not have time to fight each other. We need to be unified in a "one mission" front. If you have questions, there are those that can answer them, (F/A base leaders, active advocates and your local IAM grand lodge reps.) However, there are just some things that have no definitive answers. I (Marianne Bicksler-SEA IAM F/A Lead) would be happy to find as many answers for anyone who is really interested in an honest reply, but again…there are some things that have no answers. There is no time limit for the DOJ to rule on this and they may not even rule on it. We are not waiting for a government entity to move forward on OUR representation.
We have to come to the table with an overwhelming number of cards; more than before, and with the number of new hires that are signing up...we may very well do that again! The NMB errors on the side of management…not us.
If you see an IAM pin on someone, compliment them....walk up and tell them how much you like their pin. Start to make a difference with each other. Encourage all others to wear their pins. Pins are allowed.
Be courageous! Stand up! Be visible; be vocal…all the time, Everywhere!! We are Worthy!
~Marianne Bicksler
