Delta Ramp Employee
From Northwest Contributes

My name is Kevin Graf and I work on the ramp in Minneapolis. I have worked for Northwest Airlines for over 25 years. I frequently read the Delta organizing blog and recently a couple of stories compelled me to write this letter.

In today’s ever changing world it has become even more important to have a voice dealing with Corporate America. Our voice is our union.

I do realize how important wages are, but there are so many other things that are equally important for us as airline employees, both active and retired. Listed below are just a few things that go hand in hand with wages, that are very important to all of us, and impact our take home pay.

§ Medical Insurance: To have a plan that is in my collective bargaining agreement with the only way that a company can make changes is to negotiate with the union. To make sure we have a strong plan when we retire.
§ Retirement: Having a defined pension plan along with a 401(k). We all know what is going on with the markets today and we have many co-workers who don’t make enough money to contribute to a 401(k). With a defined pension plan you have a guaranteed retirement plan.
§ Long Term Disability: Having an LTD plan that the union controls — not the company. The benefits of this is a 24/7 plan; you have a say in the provider. The only things the company controls is paying the premium and disqualifying you from your own occupation.
§ Sick and OJI accruals: If you are injured you continue to collect 100% pay. By being on payroll you continue with your medical coverage. Sick time — again you are on payroll and you don’t need a short term disability plan.
§ Life insurance: Having not only a life insurance policy, but a life/disability insurance policy. The company provides so much coverage and you have the ability to buy more coverage if you choose.

There are so many other important items such as vacation, leaves of absence, seniority, overtime, holidays, part time, and reduction in work force rules. I could go on and on, but these are all negotiated and put into a collective bargaining agreement. The only way a company can make changes is to negotiate with you…the union.

Unions get an unfair rap of protecting the rotten apples. But I think everything I mentioned above effects every employee and are very important to all of us. I for one don’t want to leave these in the hands of the greedy executives that can make changes to any of the above mentioned on weekly, monthly, or on a whim basis. I want a voice, I want a vote and I want the protection of a contract with guarantees that I can reference to at anytime.

Thank you-
Kevin Graf