Change is needed . . .

Former PTC Clerk: Festering intrigues, politics

Change is

needed . . .

I have been a Delta flight

attendant for 23 years, and a union activist for the past six of those

years. Lately there has been a lot said of Delta, much of it negative.

I found your article very interesting because it captured many of the

thoughts that Delta employees have experienced lately. It is very difficult

to characterize what the workers of Delta have gone through in the past

several years.

Of course, I need to say a

few things about your article. First of all, the pilot's intended work

actions are very important to the workers at Delta. In an organization

that is mostly non-contracted, and not unionized, the pilots represent

everyone when they speak in solidarity. In the past, when they fought

for positive change, invariably their actions had the "trickle down"

effect for all employees. If the public (and the unschooled employees

at Delta), would put their animosity aside, and stop believing pilots

are overpaid whiners, they would recognize that there is a vital need

for improvement at Delta. What they may not realize is that not all pilots

make six-figure salaries and ALPA's stand for better benefits and pay

for all Delta affiliated pilots is important for the entire struggling

airline industry.

Second, Leo Mullin may be well-schooled

and -connected, but no one is worth the amount of money he is pocketing

at the expense of others. In the past decade, Delta employees have received

one (count it) raise that did not even place us on par with inflationary

costs. Additionally, stock options that were magnanimously bestowed on

every employee awhile back are now worthless pieces of paper. All of us

are working harder for our money, the days are longer, but the pay is

the same. It is definitely not the "old" Delta any longer.

Third, the union activity needs

clarification. For the past five years I have tried to relay to my coworkers

that a union, if we had one, would not comprise outside forces, but our

fellow employees. Everyone, especially Delta (which spent a large sum

of money on antiunion firms), is convinced (or in management's case, tries

to convince) that unions are entities from the outside trying to get our

money. Unfortunately in a company that always had the best of everything

it is hard to admit that to maintain that status, a change is in order.

Unions would render a large change but I believe they are vital if improvements

are to be made for the employees. I have not won many friends in my efforts,

and management has made it clear they disapprove of my actions, but that

is not what this is about.

When you said in your article

that instead of Mullin accepting his raise he could have said, "We're

in this together," hit the nail on the head. We as a company are

in this together, but more significantly, as members of a community we

are in this together too. Delta has long represented the best that Atlanta

had to offer and none of us want to lose that, so yes, we are all in this

together! It is too bad Leo Mullin couldn't see if that way too.

Arden Williams

Flight attendant

Sharpsburg