Labor & Employment Law

Piedmont Workers Buck Anti-Union Attacks, Vote CWA by 2 to 1

By Mike Hall

Despite a massive and vicious anti-union campaign by the notorious, hired-gun union-busting firm, Labor Relations Institute, (LRI) the 3,000 fleet and passenger service agents at Piedmont Airlines voted by a two-to-one (1,170-638) margin to join Communications Workers of America (CWA).

CWA President Larry Cohen says the campaign was a big victory for workers? bargaining and organizing rights.

Piedmont and parent company US Airways used every anti-union trick in the book to keep workers from voting ?CWA Yes.? Management held forced captive audience meetings, had supervisors tear up union materials and harass union supporters, and even hired a notorious union-busting company that promised management results ?or your money back.?

Piedmont agents stood up to this intimidation and won their union.

The election was conducted by mail and the ballots were counted today by the National Mediation Board.

Key issues in the campaign were job security, unfair and arbitrary treatment and lack of a grievance process. The agents were the only major workgroup at Piedmont without union representation.

AFL-CIO Organizing Director Elizabeth Bunn says the Piedmont workers? victory shows

it continues to be true that workers are ready to fight for collective representation.

One question remains however. Is LRI?s refund check to Piedmont in the mail?

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on November 04, 2010 (boomark / email).