And I’ll admit that I’m mildly surprised by this development.

It turns out that unionization of Delta flight attendants was rejected by a vote of 53% against the idea.  I speculated in a post found HERE that this might actually happen but I did wonder about the results since those former Northwest Airlines flight attendants are a battle hardened crew.

This is good news.  It’s good news for Delta flight attendants and it is great news for Delta management.  The best thing management could do is to make sure they continue to treat their cabin crew with respect.  Keep them compensated well and ensure those needs are getting met.   Most of all, don’t gloat and don’t threaten.  Management got what it wanted and it is best to be magnanimous about it.

I don’t blame the NWA cabin crew for wanting a union.  They needed one when doing combat with NWA management.  I think that the movement to put a union in place will actually slow some as long as management stays the course. 

In some ways, the people who get dinged the most from this development is American Airlines.  Why?  Because Delta will continue to get better productivity and enjoy more harmonious labor relations than AA and AA has been counting on the new SuperLegacies getting hit over the head.

In addition, to those who believed the new labor organization would be easier at airlines as result of the rules changes, I think you’re wrong.  This most recent vote showed that flight attendants, even ones who weren’t that emotional about the decision, do know how to vote when it counts.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax