Delta flight attendants sue over profit sharing



South Florida Business Journal
Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 5:35pm EST


Several Delta flight attendants sued the airline Wednesday in Minneapolis claiming their profit sharing checks were lower “based solely upon their prior union membership,” according to the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA).

The suit was filed on behalf of pre-merger Northwest flight attendants, who are now Delta Air Lines employees. The union claims Delta management withheld higher profit sharing checks from more than 7,500 pre-merger Northwest flight attendants.


Delta said it has not yet been served the suit, but released a statement in response to AFA’s press release:


“Until representation is fully resolved, NMB rules require that we continue to administer two separate sets of pay, benefits and work rules. This means, for example, that pre-merger Northwest flight attendants received a separate pay increase on January 1 as well as other items that are not part of the pre-merger Delta package. Providing in addition the higher pre-merger Delta rates of pay and profit-sharing would not be equal, it would be preferential. All of our employee groups -- union or non-union -- have had pay, benefits and work rules aligned when they’ve resolved representation, not piecemeal.”


Atlanta-based Delta (NYSE: DAL) in February announced $313 million in profit sharing following a $593 million profit in 2010.

Delta has a non-union tradition and in November 2010 its flight attendants Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA).


The suit was filed on behalf of pre-merger Northwest flight attendants, who are now Delta Air Lines employees. The union claims Delta management withheld higher profit sharing checks from more than 7,500 pre-merger Northwest flight attendants.


Delta said it has not yet been served the suit, but released a statement in response to AFA’s press release:

“Until representation is fully resolved, NMB rules require that we continue to administer two separate sets of pay, benefits and work rules. This means, for example, that pre-merger Northwest flight attendants received a separate pay increase on January 1 as well as other items that are not part of the pre-merger Delta package. Providing in addition the higher pre-merger Delta rates of pay and profit-sharing would not be equal, it would be preferential. All of our employee groups -- union or non-union -- have had pay, benefits and work rules aligned when they’ve resolved representation, not piecemeal.”


Atlanta-based Delta (NYSE: DAL) in February announced $313 million in profit sharing following a $593 million profit in 2010.


Delta has a non-union tradition and in November 2010 its flight attendants once again rejected union representation. But that rejection may be tossed aside by a U.S. labor board controlled by Obama administration appointees. The National Mediation Board likely will order a new election after reviewing allegations of company interference in balloting.
AFA claims it has filed hundreds of cases of election interference charges documented against Delta. The union also said it expects an investigation of the charges will lead to a new election for flight attendants.


“The AFA continues to disrespect our flight attendants and the integrity of the voting process by refusing to accept the decision of the majority of voters who clearly said they do not want AFA representation,” Delta said in its statement. “It’s time for the AFA to stop placing its own interests above the interests of our flight attendants.”