Air Transport Association challenges NMB final rule on union representation

"Today, ATA filed a lawsuit1 seeking speedy review of the National Mediation Board final rule, which dramatically changes the procedures by which airline and rail industry union representation elections are conducted. This new rule turns 75 years of history on its head without compelling justification.

"ATA believes that the National Mediation Board failed to identify any material change in circumstances to support the new election procedure - a procedure that it last rejected only two years ago. The NMB decision to abandon an election procedure that the Supreme Court twice has upheld, which has allowed unions to effectively organize the rail and aviation industries, and which has served the public interest in avoiding disruptions to the vital national aviation and rail transportation systems, is both disappointing and puzzling. ATA looks forward to a quick resolution to this case, so that airlines and their employees can move forward together and more efficiently address their mutual goals."

Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. On a daily basis, U.S. airlines operate nearly 26,000 flights in 80 countries, using more than 6,000 aircraft to carry an average of two million passengers and 50,000 tons of cargo. ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For additional industry information, visit www.airlines.org.

[1] ATA members participating are ABX Air, Inc.; AirTran Airways, Inc.; Alaska Airlines, Inc.; ASTAR Air Cargo, Inc.; Atlas Air, Inc.; Delta Air Lines, Inc.; Evergreen International Airlines, Inc.; Federal Express Corporation; Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.; and JetBlue Airways Corp.