Unions are democratic organizations of workers — united for their own mutual aid and protection and to promote and defend the rights and interests of fellow workers. In the Union Organizing section, we report on efforts to unionize non-union workplaces, and on employer efforts to oppose unionization.
Delta Air Lines customer service workers voted Dec. 7 not to join the Machinists. It was the fourth major union defeat at Delta since heavily unionized Northwest Airlines merged into largely nonunion Delta. Altogether, unions stood to gain 34,000 new members, but instead lost 17,000 existing members.
A group of 19 workers at local non-profit Free Geek have unionized with Communications Workers of America. Free Geek prides itself on an unusual form of collective management by democratic consensus. But as the group grew, a sub-caste developed — of lower-paid employees who weren’t in the collective.
