LET US BEGIN WITH THE PAST

While performing a little research for our first post, we went back a few years and found several interesting comments that Delta ramp employees have made about being "unionized”. From all accounts, at present there appears to be very little interest of the employees that work for Delta "above the wing" in joining their Northwest counterparts as Union Members. It seems so odd that just a few years back, we could find and quote numerous Delta ramp employees who, behind the comfort and safety of their keyboard and monitor at least, were quite vocal in their desire to have Union Representation.

So we ask you, "Dept. 205" workers, can you look into the past, no matter how near or far it might be: regardless of whether you've been around for thirty years, or just three, how has being employed "at will" worked out for you? If you are not interested in the Union, we would really like to know what your objections are. Generally most folks keep an open mind about things. True, there are those that can be closed-minded; I'm not one of them. Facts, figures, true-to-life stories and any other arguments you wish to include that will convince us that we would be better off without a trade Union are what we would like to see. It will also give us the opportunity to provide some insight into why we think that sticking together as fellow Brothers and Sisters in a unionized environment is the best option for both of our collective groups of employees.

Whilst you are creating some sort of a response, whatever it may be, take a look at a few random statements cultivated from the past. Please note that they are in their original format, nothing has been altered or corrected. Possibly by looking behind us, we can all paint a picture of how things might come to be in the future.


"The only way to insure your job is to have someone in your corner! To be blunt Delta management does not care about the average employee at all, our stock is worthless, our pension is frozen, and now with an impending hostile take over our jobs are even more at risk. I just hope that the ramp employees around the system are finally smart enough to figure out that we as employees need strong representation! IAM is our only hope now, when you can't trust your Management, we must look elsewhere!"

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"Pretty sad, I didn't use to be an advocate for unions, but with each and every day that goes by seeing how Delta only cares about the bottom line and not the people who make Delta "DELTA", I grow fonder and fonder for the union. What other companies out there penalize you for getting hurt while making them great? Let's vote now!!!"

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"We need to OUTSOUCE THE LEADERSHIP IN SLC and keep the workers this lunacy of contracting out our best and brightest and let the light shine back on our real value, our own people. Let’s unionize and protect the assets we have left. Let’s band together and bring professionalism and proficiency back to our passengers and customers."

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"Management is going to contract us smaller stations out people!!!! What in the world is wrong with us? You cant see it coming? I dont want to move from my home. I want to retire here in the station I started out. I just want to retire and it looks like I might not make retirement because I know the are going to contract us out. They have lied to us before. Its like what another person commented on this blog....WE HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!"

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"First off!!
No matter what, with a union we would have a contract. What a contract means is Delta would have to stand behind their word.

As far as putting all your eggs in one basket goes: I should only have ONE job. No one said we want to be rich. Some people just want to work an honest day, and spend time with their families without having to worry about getting hurt or sick, or a family member getting sick. I don't know if you checked out the insurance, but I pray that none of us including you, have a major health problem.

We know that we were all chosen for work by some boss or another. I just think that after 15 to 30 years dedicated service we wouldn't be moving backwards. After all the years of loyalty, I think that we could be treated with a little respect. Of course we can take some cuts when times are lean. But without an ounce of negotiation, take, cut, take, cut.
I wonder what the insurance is going to look like next year?

We aren't greedy jerks wanting a bigger piece of the pie, I just want to eat the piece I was originally given.

I love loading planes. I care about our customers. I just want the cuts to stop. I just want Delta to stand behind what they tell us. I would just like to see something Delta says they are going to give us without a disclaimer at the bottom.

A union wouldn't hurt Delta, they would just have to stand behind what they agree to.

If you think we don't care about this company, well then your just as clueless as the narrow minded eggs in one basket guy."

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"If i didn't like my job or care about this company i would not care if we had a union or not.

But the truth is i do like my job and i like working for Delta but i don't feel that i am getting a fair deal alot of the time. With a union we would all be treated alot more fairly and get the respect we deserve from our upper management as opposed to being their source of places to cut back when things get tight.

Simply put i like what i do and who i do it for and i want a contract to see that me and my co-workers are given a fair shake."

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"Isn't it funny that when Delta farms out the ramp at all these cities, they have a CONTRACT with the scab companies. Huh?"

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