Ninth Delta Workgroup Resolves Union Representation, IAM Rejected for Fourth Time

Pre-merger Northwest unions not chosen in any workgroup

More than 56,000 Delta people have preserved the special Delta relationship

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Dec 07, 2010, 04:24 ET

ATLANTA, Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) has received notification from the National Mediation Board (NMB) that 70 percent of employees voting in the Passenger Service election rejected representation by the International Association of Machinists (IAM). Today's results mark the final major workgroup to resolve representation as a result of the close of the merger with Northwest in October 2008. In total, more than 56,000 employees across nine workgroups have preserved the Delta relationship.

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In today's passenger service election, there were 12,518 votes cast – 8,746 "no" votes, 3,638 votes for the IAM and 134 write-in and silent votes. There were 15,436 eligible voters in the passenger service group, made up of Delta's ticket and gate agents, customer-facing Cargo agents and Reservation Sales employees.

"These results are stunning. Our people have made clear they do not want to be represented by the IAM," said Delta Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson. "There is no better testament to how well the direct relationship works at Delta than the voices of the majority clearly stating time and again they want to preserve our special relationship and values. Through numerous campaigns by several unions, even with the voting rules changed in the middle of the process, Delta people have said 'no.' It is time to move forward and bring everyone together."

The 15,436 Passenger Service employees join the following groups, none of which have chosen the pre-merger Northwest unions as their representative:

Nov. 22, 2010: TechOps Stores employees rejected IAM representation.
Nov. 18, 2010: Below-wing Airport Customer Service and Cargo warehouse employees rejected IAM representation in the Fleet Service election.
Nov. 3, 2010: Flight attendants rejected representation by the Association of Flight Attendants.
Feb. 25, 2010 / September 16, 2010: Simulator technicians twice rejected IAM representation.
March 25, 2009: Flight Dispatchers chose PAFCA, the pre-merger Delta union, and rejected the pre-merger Northwest union.
March 20, 2009: Meteorologists rejected union representation.
March 2009: Technical writers/planners resolved representation with the pre-merger Northwest union relinquishing its pre-merger certification.
Feb. 26, 2009: Aircraft maintenance technicians resolved representation with the pre-merger Northwest union relinquishing its NMB certification.

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 358 destinations in 66 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world's largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.