Delta Air Lines Inc. and other U.S. carriers may have a harder time blocking union organizing campaigns under a rule proposed by the National Mediation Board.

The plan would let workers form unions with majority approval of those voting, overturning a standard that requires support of most workers in a class and not just those who cast ballots. The proposed regulation is scheduled to be published tomorrow in the Federal Register.

"Under the existing election procedure there is no opportunity for an employee to vote 'no,'" the board said in the proposal. Such a procedure is against "the basic principles of democratic elections."

The change, if enacted following a 60-day comment period, would be a victory for the AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. labor federation. The group asked the National Mediation Board to overhaul the voting standard Sept. 2, saying the new approach would be more democratic.

 


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