Delta Flight Attendants to Decide on Union Representation; Company Says Direct Relationship with Management Best for Flight Attendants

Voting for third-party representation begins April 23

ATLANTA. – Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) has received notification from the National Mediation Board (NMB) that the voting period for a union election among Delta’s flight attendants has been scheduled for April 23-June 3, 2008. On March 18, the NMB notified Delta that it had authorized a union election among Delta flight attendants, but at that time the NMB did not specify dates for a voting period.

In response to news of the voting period, Delta issued the following statement from Joanne Smith, senior vice president – In-Flight Service and Global Product Development:

“Delta flight attendants will make one of the most important decisions of their careers over the coming months as they choose between a direct relationship with Delta’s management team or the cost and risk of a third-party representative,” Smith said. “Our flight attendants have long been successful at speaking for themselves and we continually demonstrate our willingness to respond quickly and directly to their individual and collective feedback. I’m asking all of our flight attendants to make an educated choice, based on fact.

“The facts are: Delta flight attendants have it better than what the Association of Flight Attendants’ has been able to deliver at other airlines, and those airlines’ contracts are not open to changes for several years to come – years in which Delta flight attendants will continue to enjoy higher rates of pay, a better profit sharing program and a better performance rewards program.

“In contrast, the AFA’s track record at other network carriers is not a good one. The AFA has demonstrated that its members have not been protected from pay cuts, job loss, pension termination or any other changes affecting the airline industry. And flight attendants at those other airlines also must pay hundreds of dollars per year in union dues.

“Delta has good momentum thanks to the hard work of all Delta people and we look forward to the ability to continue working on their behalf and responding to their feedback,” Smith continued.