A CULTURE OF IGNORANCE

DELTA EXPECTS CONFORMITY AND BLIND LOYALITY
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX IS NOT ENCOURAGED

As part of the process of merging our two great carriers into one, Delta and Northwest have set up a web page where employees can communicate, in a limited fashion, their concerns and hopes with each other. NewGlobalAirline.com allows the employees of both airlines access to current information concerning the merger. Part of that process is a question of the week where the airlines put out a statement and allow employees to free-form a response.

This weeks ‘question of the week’ is: “What do you want your Northwest colleagues to know about Delta’s culture? What do you want your Delta colleagues to know about Northwest’s culture?

For those of you new to Delta Air Lines, you should probably start getting used to hearing the words ‘culture’ and ‘family’ spoken often and uttered with reverence. There are many at Delta who view themselves and this airline as special and set apart from others. Indeed, the dictionary definition of culture is: ‘a particular state of advancement in civilization.’

The use of these words is nothing more than code for an anti-union bias that has existed throughout Delta’s history. Delta, over the years, has spent a small fortune to keep this company almost entirely union free. They expect their employees to comply blindly and without question, with their opinions when it comes to unions.

Recently Richard Anderson made a statement before congress concerning the union activity at Delta. “We have a long history of the Delta family, and we think that the employees have the right to decide,” Richard said. “We respect that and we have a view about that, but we think it should be fair and open, and we respect the outcome either way.”

Unfortunately, his words have not filtered down to the contact level managers and supervisors throughout the Delta system. Violations are occurring almost daily and NMB governmentally mandated rules and regulations are being ignored and interference with the legal right to hand out literature and talk about organizing is being interrupted. We assume that Mr. Anderson knows this and turns a blind eye to it; maybe with a wink and a nod.

The one great strength of our nation is our diversity. We remain strong because of our differences and our ability to accept all people and ideas. We revel in our accomplishments and still lead the world in innovative thinking and problem solving. We are a democratic nation and savor our right to choose through the ballot box, the direction we will head as a nation. Sadly however, Diversity of thought is lacking at Delta Air Lines and generally discouraged. Delta prefers to do the thinking for its employees. You see, they think they know best and discourage progressive thought or the questioning of their decision making and authority.

We look forward to having our Northwest friends reject Delta’s ‘culture of conformity’ when they come aboard and most of us in the Delta IAM union campaign will stand by the Northwest ramp union members as they show us what being part of a union has accomplished for them. With our combined efforts and power, when we are given the opportunity to choose our future, we plan on prevailing and bringing competency and economic justice back into our working environment.