Originally Posted by 3Cforme

There was an onligation to hold an election on representation - with the timing set by the union(s), not company - only because the union-represented fraction of the combined labor force of the specific work group exceeded a legal threshold. Were now FA-union-free Delta to acquire a significantly smaller airline - let's say Alaska Airlines - there would be no obligation to conduct an election: the AS FA's would automatically lose union representation. The whole 'DL became responsible for all NW contracts' line of thinking oversimplifies the relevant labor law.