Obama and the Unions
Over at The Weekly Standard, Fred Barnes is pointing to the significance of another series of elections that the Obama administration has lost – these involving a concerted attempt to unionize the workforce of Delta Airlines.
As he points out, Obama’s appointees even changed the rules, stacking the deck in favor of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Up to now, to organize a workplace a union had to secure the support in an election of a majority of its workers. In the recent elections, however, thanks to a new ruling by the National Mediation Board, they needed only to secure a majority among those who bothered to vote – which they did not get.
Next up. The airport screeners at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In this case, the Federal Labor Relations Authority will play the decisive role. It, too, is now dominated by Obama’s appointees. If you think the TSA is a mess now, consider just how much worse it could get.
Let's hope that the pertinent committee in the House of Representatives holds hearings next year.
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May '10
Re: Obama and the Unions
I really enjoyed that when I read the article the other day because the organizers were the unions from Northwest Airlines, which merged with Delta. NWA was essentially destroyed by its legacy unions (as were Eastern and United), there was a major election between rival mechanics groups (Teamsters vs. AFL-CIO) about every other year. The militants are always on local TV telling us that the world will end if they don't get their raises- right at the same time as the parent company is in bankruptcy. Reality bites.
My next door neighbor (Tom Brady's aunt) is a NW flight attendant, my cousin is a NW pilot, my niece is a NW gate agent, and her husband is a baggage handler. Amazingly, we are all on speaking terms despite my anti-labor stance......
Jul '10
Re: Obama and the Unions
I seem to recall that we were assured that TSA would not be subject to unionization at the time it was created.
Re: Obama and the Unions
Exactly right, Kenneth. Here's John Fund from the WSJ:
This seems like a great political issue, no? The only thing that could make the TSA and labor unions more unpopular is to somehow combine them.
Jul '10
Re: Obama and the Unions
Rob Long
Exactly right, Kenneth. Here's John Fund from the WSJ:
And I recall knowing right from the start that this is what would inevitably happen.