Machinists Union on Edge About Airline Deals

The country's largest airline union is poised to oppose any mergers in the industry, starting with the possible combination of Delta Air Lines (DAL Quote) and Northwest Airlines (NWA Quote), which could potentially reduce the number of workers represented by organized labor.

"We think part of the thinking here is that they could de-unionize the transportation labor movement," says Robert Roach, general vice president of the International Association of Machinists, in an interview. "Additionally, we think that mergers adversely affect the flying public."

The IAM represents 110,000 employees at a variety of airlines, including about 11,000 agents and ground service workers at Northwest, where it is the largest union. By contrast, pilots are the only major labor group at Delta with union representation. ...