The Northwest Airlines flight attendants union is alleging Delta Airlines managers are breaking contracts that cover flight attendants belonging to the union from Northwest Airlines.
The lawsuit claims that Delta has breached rules about scheduling, health, safety and pay. A case in point, Delta is giving its operatives only 11 hours rest after an international flight when it should give them two days off. The union also cited cases of Delta’s managers meeting with non–union flight attendant groups without inviting the union.
Delta acquired Northwest in late 2008 but they mostly operate as a single airline. Delta flight attendants have no union, whereas employees who came from Northwest still belong in the union. Flight attendants from Delta and Northwest will vote, towards the end of the year, to decide whether all attendants will come under the union.
The union is looking for relief from the alleged violations by Delta and an unstipulated amount in damages.
Delta, however, feels that the lawsuit has no basis. The deadlock is proof of the tense relationship between the union and the large non-union carrier.
Said Delta spokesperson Gina Laughlin said, “We believe this lawsuit has no merit and can only presume it is meant to divide flight attendants and distract them from the upcoming representation election.”