Thread: Delta/NW Union, Yay or Nay?

Just in my own experience with DL, I don't think it's necessary, BUT, perhaps the active DL employees can give you a clearer picture.

Thinking about when I worked as a QSA NW, I'd have to say no. Even on a union job, I still only made $7.07/hour (can't remember if that was before or after any union dues). Because of union regulations, we were not allowed to TOUCH the check-in machines, we could only direct people towards the CSAs to check in, or TELL people what to do on the self-service machines (which at that point, why not just push the damn button).

To me, all the union was good for was to send out mailings that I wouldn't care about. Otherwise, it was something that held me back from doing the core duty of my job: help passengers. It's not so much that I trust Delta without a union, I just don't see the point of the union in my experiences with Northwest.

However, given that I am not even an employee of NW, much less DL, I'm going to abstain from voting.

Honestly? I dislike the atmosphere as of late - a subtle 'something' that has permeated things for the last few months - I've heard some serious horror stories and have had some pretty unpleasant experiences myself once it was known that I was not "Original Delta" (but this doesn't ALWAYS happen - on my actual flight to and from EZE the crew were absolutely wonderful and welcoming) - Sea-Tac has become a really unpleasant place to fly out of, no matter which airline you're traveling on.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumper @ Sep 25 2009, 12:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Honestly? I dislike the atmosphere as of late - a subtle &#39;something&#39; that has permeated things for the last few months - I&#39;ve heard some serious horror stories and have had some pretty unpleasant experiences myself once it was known that I was not "Original Delta" (but this doesn&#39;t ALWAYS happen - on my actual flight to and from EZE the crew were absolutely wonderful and welcoming) - Sea-Tac has become a really unpleasant place to fly out of, no matter which airline you&#39;re traveling on. [/b]

I suppose that if you&#39;re working res, you may have more of an incentive to go with a union due to job security. Obviously, with online reservations taking over, it&#39;s harder to justify keeping a full phone staff from 15 years ago. My next-door neighbors from back home (good family friends) worked in res. The wife is still there, the other was able to get an early retirement package. They&#39;ve told stories about entire sections right next to them getting the boot. Then again, those jobs are unionized, too. I&#39;m really not sure if this is a case of a weak union, or if things would be much worse otherwise.

It&#39;s tough, I think. I&#39;ll ask to not be flamed for my comments, this is just how I feel.

I think Delta for the last 80 years has been just fine without a union. I also think that NW would not be fine without a union. I think DL never needed a union, and NW has. Again, don&#39;t flame me, but I just feel as though NW is taking over DL from the inside out. I think one has to completely forget about this merger and ask if NW needs a union or not, because that&#39;s the way the merged company will negotiate.

At the same time I have alot of issues with the abuse of unions. I think in theory they are fantastic and have done alot to improve life for all modern workers in all fields. My issue is when the wrong employees are protected from reprimand, and when seniority advances one that doesn&#39;t deserve advancement, etc. I also see that unions are not an end-all failsafe way to protect ones job. I watched a contract ground handling company handle the NW flights in my city since I started, and know that the NW union didn&#39;t protect the jobs of the NW employees the contractor replaced.

I&#39;m completely split. I just don&#39;t know how much value a union really has. At the same time, it seems DL&#39;s attitude is that the employee is the enemy. The employees don&#39;t provide a service, they take DLs money, in Dickie Andersons mind anyway.

I know for a fact that DL will exchange customer service for cost savings. I no longer work for an airline, as DL sold out every customer service agent of Comair Airlines and Mesaba Airlines. I now work for a contract ground handling company that starts at a lower payrate than McDonalds in my airport. It just baffles me that DL wants to put their airplanes worth Millions and Millions of dollars in the hands of minimum wage workers that don&#39;t know anything about aviation and could care less. Welcome to the NEW DELTA.

No flames from me!

I appreciate the Union that I have, lately more so than I ever had. Sadly, I do think we need them more than ever these days and prefer to have the stability of someone watching my back.

I&#39;m still waiting for my shirt....