Senator Rockefeller destroys Delta airlines on the Senate Floor for their role in FAA Shutdown

[Omaha Steve]

Senator Rockefeller destroys Delta airlines on the Senate Floor for their role in FAA Shutdown http://1.usa.gov/oxV6Pm

Here is Rockefeller:

I wish I understood why the policy objections of one company-Delta Air Lines-mattered more than the livelihoods of thousands of people. Last year, the CEO of Delta made $9 million. Delta paid its top executives almost $20 million. Yet, it is fighting to make sure its employees cannot organize for fear that they may secure a few extra dollars in their paychecks. At the same time it is pushing for special interest provisions in the FAA bill, Delta announced it was abandoning air service to 26 small rural communities-leaving many of them without air service.

Delta then had the gall to announce publicly it would seek EAS subsidies to continue this service. Maybe Mr. Anderson and his colleagues could forgo some of their salary to help subsidize this air service. Maybe they could use some of the millions of dollars they are collecting in a tax holiday windfall to pay for this service. Their actions are shameful.

Let me be clear, House Republicans and their Senate allies have thrown nearly four thousand FAA employees out of work, stopped critical airport safety projects, hurt hundreds of small businesses, and gutted the Aviation Trust Fund, all so that Delta Air Lines doesn't have to allow its employees to organize in a fair and timely manner.

The needs of one company should not dictate the safety and soundness of our aviation system. We need to pass a clean extension that will get people back to work, and businesses and their employees back to work building out critical airport infrastructure.

[dgibby]

1. Time for a boycott. n/t

[WhiteTara]

2. of what and whom?

[dgibby]

5. Delta.

We need to stand with the unions on this.

[WhiteTara]

8. Oh. That is too easy for me.

I quit flying a couple of years ago. But if I do fly, true, it won't be delta.

[dgibby]

9. I'd walk across the country before I'd get on a plane.

I never liked to fly anyway, and I refuse to be molested by airport security.

[DearAbby]

3. Time for a National strike

in support of other Working Americans. This is theft. This will continue, unless we are willing to take a risk, to save this country.

[napi21]

4. Parts of what he said may be true, but I'm missing something here.

Delta Pilots are already unionized. They recently had a vote to see if the flight attendants wanted a union and they voted no. Several years ago they had a vote by the maintenance guys on getting a union and THEY voted no.

If the Pugs are claiming that's the reason for not renewing the FAA trust fund authorization, they lying AGAIN!

Let me add, the airports they are eliminating are in extremely small towns. When I looked at the list, I only recognized ONE location on the list! The flights they had were flying at 1/2 capacity! They're a business, folks. With the cost of fuel, they simply cannot afford to keep flights like that.

[Merlot]

6. Pilots aren't the only employees who unionize

Ground Services (what left of them after automated do it yourself checkin), rampers/baggage handlers, operations, managers, administration, etc. Pilots are a minority of the people who work at airlines.

[napi21]

7. The mai reason the Delta employees voted no on unionizing is

because almost all the other airlines are unionized and by necessity I suspect, their pay is very close to what those in the unions make. They didn't feel that it was worth it to them fo have to pay around $50/mo to a union. I know this because my son works for them & has for 21 years.

[mrmpa]

10. I've been looking for Rockefeller to be the voice of ...

progressives and the working class, since Ted Kennedy died. I hope he's finding his voice.

[burrowowl]

11. Kick!

[Omaha Steve]

12. Kick