LET'S TALK FEAR
NWA Ramp Worker Responds

Let’s talk fear, because with my knowledge and preparedness, I'm afraid. Northwest and Doug Steenland reply to the question "What happens to NWA’s collective bargaining agreements?" in this merger. The reply is this, copied and pasted from NWA Q&A:

“They will remain in place and be assumed by Delta pending conclusion of the representation elections. In the event that a NWA union wins the representation election, Northwest’s CBAs will continue to remain in place until a new combined CBA is negotiated. In the event that the union does not win the representation election, pay and benefits will be managed by Delta’s policies and procedures.”

As a NW employee, if the IAM does not win the representation election, I FEAR having my pay and benefits managed by Delta. I FEAR losing my 12 sick days per year with unlimited accruals and getting stuck with Delta’s 7 days per year. I FEAR losing my 12 OJI days per year with unlimited accruals and getting stuck with Delta’s NOTHING, NO OJI days what so-ever. I FEAR looking forward to my 6 weeks vacation because I may get stuck with Deltas 4 or 5 weeks (I'm unclear how many weeks Delta gets.)

I FEAR losing out on overtime that is equalized and distributed fairly and getting stuck with Delta’s favoritism distribution program. I FEAR losing out on my 2 pensions because Delta will not fund my IAM Pension, a growing and stable pension rated as one of the best in the country fully funded at 113%. I FEAR losing the right to exercise my seniority in the event I'm laid off to any of the 40 NW IAM represented ramp stations and getting stuck with what stations Delta selects for me. I FEAR losing some of those 40 stations and 10 Cargo facilities and getting stuck with some serviced by Delta Global Services.

I FEAR losing the language that protects our jobs from being out-sourced to managers and 3rd party service companies at Delta’s will. I FEAR losing our grievance procedure with investigations and union representatives present in the event of disciplinary action or violations of our IAM contract. I FEAR losing our IAM cap on part-time and getting stuck with Delta’s unlimited part time policy. I FEAR losing the obligation our company has to fill an empty full time position with another full time permanent employee and getting stuck with Delta’s READY RESERVE program.

I FEAR we may lose a lot more if the IAM does not win and we get stuck with Delta’s policies and procedures. I FEAR unknowledgeable and uneducated posters on this blog.

I will have NO FEAR whatsoever if Delta employees join us and sign an authorization card for union representation and vote YES for the IAM. Our power in numbers will be undeniable. Sign those A-Cards now. Vote for the IAM.

Doug in LA