Delta Air Lines is facing heat for encouraging its workers to buy a video game system instead of paying union dues.
Delta’s baggage handlers and other ground workers are considering whether to unionize. Delta does not want this. Hoping to convince employees to vote against unionization, it distributed the following flyer in airport break rooms.
Union dues cost around $700 a year.
A new video game system with the latest hits sounds like fun. Put your money towards that instead of paying dues to the union.’
Insulting. Without an IAM contract, many @Delta workers have to work 2-3 jobs just to survive. They have no time to play games. #DoBetterDelta pic.twitter.com/UVM0PR2fKC
— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) May 9, 2019
Not surprisingly, the International Association of Machinists blasted the flyer as insulting, adding:
The union-busting techniques have hit an all-time low. We are considering all options to combat that.
But Delta disputes the charge of “union busting” and asserts it just wants employees to make a well-reasoned decision.
They want and deserve the facts and we respect our employees’ right to decide if a union is right for them. Delta has shared many communications, which on the whole make clear that deciding whether or not to unionize should not be taken lightly.
Delta also maintains a “Don’t Risk It, Don’t Sign It” website that encourages workers to “Be Delta. Be different.”
The website strongly and directly attacks the IAM union.
Furthermore, Delta points out that it offers the “best total compensation” in the industry and that IAM retirement packages would be not be as lucrative for workers. Currently, Delta pilots are the only workgroup that is unionized.
Blasting Delta, Democratic Presidential nominee and Vermont Senator Bernies Sanders said on Twitter:
Delta told employees to buy video games instead of forming a union. What a disgrace.
Delta's CEO made nearly $22 million in 2017 while paying ramp agents as little as $9/hour.
I say to Delta: Stop trying to undercut workers' right to form a union and negotiate for better wages. https://t.co/8fx30jIfJf
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 9, 2019
Others have joined in his chorus.
CONCLUSION
If half of the info on Delta’s anti-union website is true, I am quite sympathetic to Delta’s position here and question whether unionizing would be helpful to workers. At the same time, I cannot help but to wonder if a carrier that lies so viciously against Gulf Carriers is also not lying about the union organizers. In my book, Delta has a broader credibility problem. I think we can all agree that the video game ad was probably a mistake…it’s just a bit patronizing.
image: Delta
Interesting
I wonder? Is Delta’s lack of unionized workers related to their amazing profit sharing program? I don’t have exact numbers, but I believe that they are way better than that of AA’s and UA’s who’s workers I believe are unionized.
The video game thing is patronizing, and while the amount a worker is required to pay in union dues is something potential members should be made aware of, they could have used a better example. Or just stated the facts; $700 would likely get people’s attention. But unions accusing anyone else of using hardball tactics to get their way is the ultimate example of the pot calling the kettle black.
Where’s the “pressure” promised in the headline?…seems more like a “pitch” to me.
Im a Delta worker and IAM is full of crap they get mad when Delta workers dont want to sign a card and try to show up at people’s home unannounced. I have been with Delta 24 years and make good money to be exact 6 figures the past 7 years before that high 70s 80s and 90s.Profit sharing is AWESOME
On big problem is the $700 per year dues. With over 40,000 employees that would be members, that would be about $30 million per year. What does it take $30 million to administer? Just membership staff, some negotiation staff, some lawyers? It’s because of the big pot that there could be corruption.
On the other hand, there is potential that a company could underpay its workers. The government does it with Medicaid. That is why many places don’t take Medicaid and the ones that do are punished with substandard pay.
I’m happy to see so much support from Delta employees in the comments. While I typically support unions, I have been in both union and non-union roles within my organization. My experience has been that in a non-union role, I am given more freedom and ownership to do my work, and as a result, there is a greater level of pride in my work. I feel like this is a part of the Delta difference. Delta employees seem to care more about their organization, and that pride is visible to the passengers.
Delta has been accosted by unions before and they have failed. When the merger with NW took place NW chose no union and have benefitted from their decision. DL’s profit sharing program is unmatched by all other airlines and most of the companies who offer profit sharing