Delta backs Obama's labor board (oversees airline labor disputes) nominee

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/05/04/daily30.html
Tuesday, May 5, 2009

by J. Scott Trubey Staff Writer

Delta Air Lines Inc. is lending its support to President Barack Obama’s union-backed pick for the board that oversees airline labor disputes.

In a statement issued Tuesday by the Atlanta-based carrier (NYSE: DAL), Delta’s top human resources officer urged the U.S. Senate to confirm Linda Puchala to the three-member National Mediation Board (NMB).

Puchala, a top mediator for the NMB and the former president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA union, which represents pre-merger Northwest Airlines flight attendants, has already received the union’s backing. She is the Obama administration’s pick to replace Read Van de Water, chairman of the NMB board and a former Northwest lobbyist.

"Ms. Puchala has years of valuable experience, including time with the NMB,” Mike Campbell, Delta executive vice president of human resources and labor relations, said in a statement. “She enjoys broad support among the airline industry and labor community. We look forward to her confirmation to become a member of the NMB."

Campbell said in a statement the world’s largest carrier has made great strides in integrating its workforce since its October acquisition of Northwest, and more “milestones” will be reached in 2009.

"Delta has made tremendous progress integrating our two airlines during the last six months, including common uniforms and employee badges, common branding of our airports and aircraft, integrated airport facilities, and resolving seniority integration and aligning work rules for a number of workgroups,” Campbell said, adding the carrier hopes to attain a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration by the end of this year.

FULL story at link.