Go to this link.

GE is running a series of “ecomagination” commercials.  Find the one for the “Crane”.  There is something about that one that just entertains me to no end.

Filed under: Trivia by ajax
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The pilots of both Delta and NorthWest Airlines have approved a new joint collective bargaining agreement according to CNN.  This is likely the biggest obstacle, labor-wise, to this merger although I do think that there is potential trouble when it comes to the flight attendants of each airline.

You see, Delta’s flight attendants are not unionized but they do enjoy some of the best pay, schedules and working conditions of any of the legacy airlines.  NorthWest flight attendants, however, are highly unionized and have not traditionally been very management friendly.  No doubt, some of that enmity is earned.  From time to time, there is a movement to unionize Delta FAs but it always results in a no vote with only about 1/3 of their FA’s ever voting for a union.

In this new matchup, it is quite likely that Northwest flight attendants will move to organize under the new company structure immediately and they themeslves have a physical majority over the total number of Delta flight attendants.  See where this is going? 

Delta, particularly the current leadership, needs to go to great lengths to try to head off that move for two reasons:  First, they just gave a very handsome deal to the pilots and flight attendants are going to want to share in that wealth.  Second, they currently enjoy unprecedented flexibility that allows them to work much more closely with the flight attendants on things like scheduling and other work rules.  That flexibility rewards both parties presently but a pro-union/anti-management organization will cut deeply into Delta’s ability to maneuver in today’s business climate.

I don’t hold out much hope for Delta though.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax
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