The Today In The Sky Blog has this report today.  Northwest Airlines unions apparently took exception to management directly asking workers what kind of work environment they would prefer in the upcoming Delta / Northwest merger.

The ability of unions to shoot themselves in the foot in this industry boggles the mind.  This union reaction clearly spells stormy weather for Delta in the post-merger organization too.  Between this story and my last post, it becomes clear that union leadership at Northwest is aligned with no one, including their membership, other than themselves and maintaining their current power.  That is not the purpose of a union now or in the past. 

Reactions like this only serve to set up a battle line between the union and the airline and today’s airlines cannot afford such conflict if they are to concentrate on succeeding.  It is, first and foremost, in the interests of the union for the airline to make a profit for when they do, they better further their argument for better pay and work conditions.  It isn’t in the airlines best interest to simply cave into craven demands underlined with childish behavior.

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