700UW said:
I actually read this article in "the stand", but I have to say, the case for unionization (be it IAM or any other) presented here, at least as written by the co-authors, is very weak.
Right off the bat, there is a statement that doesn't pass the smell test.
"Workplace and personal safety are major issues faced by this workforce in their challenge to unionize."
It may sound naive, but I can't figure out what safety issues DL FAs are facing? Afterall AA, WN, BA and DL (the carriers that I routinely fly) have, in general the same workplace and in general perform the same tasks. Are DL aircraft more dangerous? As far as personal safety, I don't know what to think? I mean is DL an airline of choice for thugs or unruly passengers? DTW is not really in the 'hood? Maybe ATL is a dangerous place? Are DL pilots flyign the planes recklessly? The personal safety comment almost makes me want to laugh.
But the best part is this: on one hand the authors state that ".
.. Delta flight attendants have lost over 60 years of the progress enjoyed by their sisters and brothers at other unionized U.S. air carriers such as American, United and Alaska."
But on the other hand:
".....federal government statistics ..... have consistently shown that aircraft cabins are dangerous workplaces, with flight attendant injury rates many times higher than those experienced by employees in private industry as a whole."
That suggests that over the last 60 years FA unions have done absolutely nothing to improve workplace safety. Why would it then be good to join a useless organization?
Why can't the IAM (or whatever union is hoping to grab the DL FAs as their customers) just try to sell that with a union you could get a better compenstaion package? That, IMHO, could be a motivation to join a union.