WASHINGTON, DC — The following statement was issued today by Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, in reaction to the National Mediation Board’s September 30 decision to refuse to investigate the 119 charges of interference against Delta Air Lines in attempts by the air carrier’s flight attendants to form a union.
“It is a dark day when our government walks away from its duty to protect working people from illegal corporate conduct. That is exactly what happened on the evening of September 30 when Bush appointees to the National Mediation Board (NMB) blessed Delta Air Line’s deliberate campaign – in violation of U.S. labor law – to block unionization by its flight attendants.
“The law is clear to anyone but the Bush NMB that workers have the right to form and join unions free from employer coercion and interference. Yet despite overwhelming evidence that Delta trampled on the rights of its employees, these Bush NMB appointees have turned a blind eye to such blatantly illegal behavior. And what is even more amazing is that they used their 2-1 majority to block action just to investigate the charges.
“The NMB majority members have clearly abandoned their duty to uphold the law. This decision underscores why it is time to reform this agency and clean house.
“We appreciate the strong leadership of NMB member Harry Hoglander who dissented in this decision and properly declared that failure to investigate Delta’s outrageous conduct was an abrogation of the NMB’s explicit duties under the law.
“We will not rest until Delta’s flight attendants gain the collective bargaining voice they so desperately need and deserve.”
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The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, represents 32 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit ttd.org.
