Airlines preparing court challenge to new US labor rule

Finally!!! Workers will be able to unionize using a fair election system.

The ATA's President is none other than Glenn Tilton, United Airline's CEO. Everyone in America knows what good service his company provides (worst in most recent customer service ratings). He has enriched himself while treating his employee's with the utmost disrespect sacking their pensions and cutting their pay by 40% in bankruptcy. After this, while exiting BK, he attempted to reward himself and his top executives with 15% of the company's reissued new stock (BK judge ruled this excessive and gave them 5%). He has taken millions during the last 6 years but benevolently still managed to give his employees two (whopping) 1% raises during this time period.

He would probably have everyone think he's just a tough manager but since he has publicly stated "Morale is not my problem", employees know different. He would like ALL employees - and especially the unions - under his boot!

As an airline employee with 22 years at the same legacy carrier, I can vouch for the bad decisions that are made by management every day. I am a Union member who will vote YES every time. I have job security and a pension thanks to my Union and if the airlines had their way they would contract out my job.

Airline workers need to wake up and smell the coffee. All the major carriers will contract out their public contact employees' if they are given the opportunity. Then the public will really see what bad service truly is.

Jeff, what planet do u live on. Did u vote for your congressman, senator, president? In most elections, those who don't vote don't count. Why should it be any different? What you're saying is: if u don't vote, that is a NO vote. Ok, let's turn it around, if you don't vote, it's a YES. I am not pro union. I believe that in many instances they breed mediocrity, but this is a fair rule. And by they way, it's not the unions that brought the airline and auto industry to bankruptcy, but very poor management, whom btw have no problem protecting themselves and giving themselves bonues when nit deserved.

I am a union worker with a major airline and I have seen many, many times where my carrier has out sourced jobs of long term employees, in some cases 20-30 year loyal employees.
These out sourced employees our forced to work at 2/3 or less of their previous wages with little or no benefits.
This does not happen with a union. In this day with the way greedy corporations conduct business, a union is the only source of job security.

The decision is fine as long as it works both ways. It should only take 51% of those actually voting to kick the union out. It's been my experience in the last 37 years I've been a union member that the Union takes your money but there is no accountability for how it is spent other than paying senior union officers not to work. In my case my annual union dues actually result in a $1700/year pay cut since I could use that money for my family and get something of value in return; I'm certainly not getting any more job security or compensation than my non-union counterparts where I work.

This decision is horrid. Unions are just another group of people with their hands out for little in return. There is no job security with a union. These unions are communist/socialist entities. As a union member, I see no benefit for the thousands of dollars they have taken from me. Hope that America can start to throw off the shackles of communism/socialism this fall.

We here at Delta air Lines DO NOT want union.....union wans us so they can legally steal our money and feed their fat bells while we are busting our butts...We can handle ourselves....Please leave us alone

I'm a Republican just for the record. But this rule is just stupid. And wrong in every fabric of it. the Airlines are just
anti anything that will make them do there job. Just like Tarmac delays. they fought that also. The workers should be able to vote for representation fairly. Just like evey other vote is this country. A non vote SHOULD NOT be counted as a No Vote!

This is not 1935 anymore where we had One railroad or one Airline. The whole RLA needs to be in the trash. If one wants to go to Dallas for example, one has probably 6 or more choices, not one. The RLA is a joke and is only here to help Big Business's bottom line and to line the pockets of upper management. And everyone knows what I say is 100% true.

I applaud this decision. It's about time that democracy has come to the air and railway work groups. How can a country that prides itself on being the leader of the free world, condone a practice that an absent vote counts one way or another?

If, say I decided not to vote in the last presidential election, and neither Barack Obama or John McCain received the majority of eligible votes, does that mean the George W Bush would have received my vote? NO! That's not how elections work in this country.

If you do not vote, your vote does NOT count toward anything. As long as 50% plus 1 of eligible workers vote, the election should stand on who received the most votes CAST! Period! Apathy in voting should not be rewarded to one side or the other.

I guess the answer is having management taking $400 million in bonuses while the carrierer is losing money. Then offer nothing to the unions but a letter to our homes stating that were going down the toilet. When is management going to wake up and see that I, as a union employee, depend on the airline for my livelyhood also. In my eyes, management takes cares of themself`s and screws everyone else. There is no promoting team work. I am also a 20+ year industry employee, union mechanic. Having more vice presidents is not the answer.

Well said. Unions breed mediocrity and laziness!

If that is the case, why has Delta historically ranked at the bottom and Union airlines like NWA at the top?

Like in 2009

What is the big deal? People against a union can always vote 'No'. People who don't vote can't complain.

The ATA should concentrate on fixing Airline Problems ...lost bags, unfair executive compensation....Delta should not waiste money on Lawyer fees but rather focus on on time performance and customer satisfaction. What are they afraid of, bargin in good faith and there will be no issues.

The debate between union and non-union is also the difference between democratic work environment or a totalitarian one, respectively. The word meiocrity is used alot regarding the organized yet we all know it exists in all workplaces to some degree with or without a CBA. One must be careful about dogma and rhetorical soundbytes from the RNC. Given the history of corporate behavior, working people need some reasonable protection if they are to have a career and support their families with a reasonable standard of living. A strong middle-class, much the result of collective bargaining over many decades, breeds a strong democracy. The fact than many corporations are fighting the new voting rule is an expose of their collective attitudes toward democracy in the workplace, where the common worker can have a voice about rules, conditions, and safety that directly affect their lives. Sorry, I must remain anonymous as my identity would probably cause my termination - my employer is one in the suit against NMB. Even under a CBA one is effectively gagged by their management against freedom of speech. Now THAT'S totalitarian!!

Sadly...you appear to be one of many ill informed anti union zealots living parasitically off of the sweat and tears of Union employees. There is NO union in this country that charges dues when an employee is OFF pay roll...PERIOD.

This is but one of many blatant lies spread by "Labor Consultants" and their flunkies about unions.

I've often heard "the threat of a union is better than having one"...how anyone could admit to being a bottom feeder and profiting from the risk of others is beyond disgusting.

THAT...is not the American way!