TIME TO CLOCK IN?
TIME TO JOIN THE IAM!

DELTA TO PHASE IN TIME CLOCKS
EMPLOYEES REACT WITH ANGER


Organizing a union at Delta Air Lines is a bit like attempting to herd cats; a very difficult task. Delta Air Lines must be quite confident in ultimately defeating the employees who want unions, some of whom are having varying degrees of success on the Delta property.

How else do you explain the curious decision to install identity card readers to track employee arrival and check-out times? For many, the only reason some hadn’t signed a union authorization card was the issue of having no time clocks. It was the only really valuable benefit we had left. Most people didn’t abuse the privilege of arriving a minute or two late (or early!) and leaving to beat the traffic when the work was done.

After all, those employees on 8 hour shifts actually have an unpaid lunch because the shift runs 8½ hours. Many stations have long bus rides between employee parking lots which eat up additional time…that is unpaid of course. By requiring employees to stay all the way to the end of shift on the tarmac, an 8 hour day can easily turn into a 9½ hour stay because of the unpaid lunch plus the transportation between the ramp and parking lot.

We who are part of the organizing committees want to thank Delta management for the tremendous help they have given us since the announcement. Authorization cards are hard to find now because so many people want to sign up. Departments that were previously not involved in the unionization effort are asking how to get started (all are welcome.) Anger is just boiling near the surface now and time is on our side.

Seriously, what’s next? Is management going to turn us upside down and shake the last bit of change out of our pockets? They’ve taken everything else.

On the flip side, the StarTribune out of Minneapolis is reporting that “Northwest Airlines reached a settlement with the union that represents its baggage handlers over a $10 million claim related to worker grievances filed in the company’s bankruptcy case. Under the agreement, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers [IAM] will get a $3 million unsecured claim against Eagan-based Northwest and a $1 million administrative claim under its reorganization plan.” Union spokesman Joseph Tiberi said Northwest will pay $4 million in cash for distribution to workers with grievances filed before the bankruptcy that hadn’t previously settled.”

Guess it pays to have a union representing your interests, even in bankruptcy! How much did we get when our 401(k) money was wiped out during bankruptcy? Did the company represent your interests to the court? How about the Delta Board Council? NO! We got less than 2 cents on the dollar. Northwest employees who were represented by the IAM received 86 cents on the dollar.

When we finish organizing and vote in the IAM, the issue of how long a work day lasts will be a point of discussion and negotiation. We don’t have to settle for an unpaid lunch or a long unpaid bus ride to work from the employee parking lot; all these subjects will be on the table. Who knows what the final outcome will be? We already know what Delta’s position is. Without a union one just has to settle for what the company decides.

Those of you who have become upset about the time clock implementation need to turn your anger into action by joining the union effort. You can contact us at this blogsite or at http://www.iamaw.org/.