Delta Air Line workers plan major organizing rally

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4648

1 October 2010

BLOOMINGTON - Workers at Delta Air Lines will hold a major rally Sunday to promote their efforts to unionize thousands of workers at the carrier.

The rally will run from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Ramada Inn Mall of America, 2300 East American Blvd., Bloomington.

Keynote speaker will be Tom Buffenbarger, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. This fall, some 30,000 baggage handlers, customer service agents, reservation agents and stock clerks will vote whether to join the Machinists union.

Voting is already under way for 20,000 flight attendants considering representation by the Association of Flight Attendants.

The elections are taking place because Delta, which had a largely non-union workforce, merged with Northwest Airlines, which was heavily unionized. The National Mediation Board, a federal agency, is overseeing the votes.

"The outcome of these votes will have effects on workers far beyond the airline industry," Machinists Local 1833 said in announcing the rally. "To win we need the help of the entire labor movement . . . Come support Delta workers as we begin our vote."

For more information
Visit the Delta workers' organizing website: http://www.iam4delta.org/