American Airlines Stonewalling Union Election for 10,000 workers

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/13359/american_airlines_stonewalling_union_election_for_10000_workers/


American Airlines and American Eagle employees march to U.S. Bankruptcy Court to protest against American's plans to cut jobs and labor costs while under bankruptcy court protection on April 23, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

On Wednesday, the National Mediation Board (NMB), which governs labor relations in the rail and airline industries, ordered American Airlines to proceed with an election petitioned for by 10,000 of its customer-service workers on whether to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The workers had petitioned to hold the election nearly six months ago in December 2011, but American Airlines has delayed it, filing various lawsuits and challenges.

The NMB had originally scheduled an election to occur on May 17. However, American Airlines sued the National Mediation Board on May 2, claiming that the union election petition should be filed again since President Obama signed a bill that increased the threshold of employees needed to file for a union election. American Airlines defied the order from NMB and refused to hand over lists of eligible voters and comply with the election request by American Airlines.

In response, the NMB cited a 2004 decision it had made declaring that, if petitions had already been filed before a law was changed, elections should proceed as they previously would have. “It is the NMB’s longstanding policy consistent with (existing law) to resolve representation disputes as expeditiously as possible,” wrote NMB General Counsel Mary L. Johnson. “The Board notes that as a result of American’s Motion, the processing of this representation case has already been delayed for four weeks.”

The National Mediation Board has ordered an election to begin via telephone and internet voting on June 21 through August 2. The results will be announced on August 2, but it is unclear if American Airlines will comply with the ruling by the NMB to hand over its lists of eligible voters so that there can be an election.