Obama Admin Makes It Easier for Air and Rail Unions to Organize

[SpartanDem]

The National Mediation Board decision was widely expected after the Obama administration gave the three-member panel a Democratic majority last year. Unions are staunch Democratic supporters.

The change reverses decades of practice under the Railway Labor Act and currently resonates most forcefully with airlines. Big unions representing thousands of flight attendants and certain ground workers said they plan to test the measure soon at Delta Air Lines, the world's largest carrier that is mostly non-union.

Other airlines potentially affected include JetBlue Airways and AirTran Holdings Inc.

Union leaders said the change will lead to fairer elections because it will now prohibit companies from counting as 'no' votes those not casting ballots in a representation election

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6493PX20100510?type=domesticNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

[Cha]

1. A celebratory high five!

:hi::bounce:

[ProSense]

2. More:

For Air, Rail Workers, NMB Rule Means ‘Democracy’

A new rule issued this morning by the National Mediation Board (NMB) means airline and rail workers will now be able to choose whether to join a union under rules that are more fair and more in line with democratic principles.

For decades, the deck has been stacked against workers covered under the Rail Labor Act (RLA) because every worker who did not cast a vote in a representation election was automatically counted as a “No” vote. The new NMB rule says that an election’s outcome will be decided by the majority of votes cast, just like every other election, from city council to the presidency.

<...>

[ClarkUSA]

3. This proves once again those who insist Pres. Obama is a corporatist are liars.

The Obama administration has been a friend to Labor from Day One. They continue to be so. Union leaders must be pinching themselves right now. I feel sorry for whoever runs against incumbent President Obama in 2012, because unions will go all out to crush his challengers.

[demosincebirth]

5. I agree, but they'll find something else to hang around his neck.

[SpartanDem]

8. It's quite telling about the lack comments about this story

this place will throw itself into a rage over unsubstantiated rumor like when it was said the the FCC wouldn't support net neutrality. Which of course turned out to be untrue. Way too many people here seem to thrive on being constantly outraged.

[Ernesto]

4. works for me nt

[impik]

6. Worse than Bush

[Cha]

10. Oh that Obama.."he's center right moderate"

or some such gibberish I read on the internet.

[Arkana]

7. It's the small things that show just how much different he is than his predecessor.

[Dappleganger]

9. BIG K&R!

[Brickbat]

11. Glad to hear this. Now let's see some movement on EFCA!

[Union Yes]

14. +10000 nt

[Hekate]

12. Kick and Rec for the cheering news

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[Union Yes]

13. This union activist applauds and salutes Pres Obama!

:patriot:

edit: recced

[CTLawGuy]

15. ho hum

down the memory hole.