Flight Attendants Reject Unionization by Wide Margin

The National Mediation Board said Delta Air Lines' flight attendants overwhelmingly rejected a move to unionize under the Association of Flight Attendants.

The board, which oversees labor issues for the airline industry, said 5,520 flight attendants, or about 29% of the 19,033 eligible to vote, cast ballots in favor of unionizing under the AFA. The union, which has been trying to organize the flight attendants for four years, needed support from a majority of all flight attendants eligible to vote, or more than 9,500 votes.

Atlanta-based Delta, the third-largest U.S. airline, is the least unionized of the major carriers and has fought hard to beat back the unionization drive in a bid to preserve that distinction. Delta says not having the union gives the carrier more flexibility than its peers.

A Delta spokesman said the carrier is "pleased that our flight attendants have voiced their commitment to continue their 60-year tradition of partnership with the company."

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