On Sept. 29, the National Mediation Board began mailing voting instructions to over 20,000 Delta flight attendants for a landmark election that will determine whether more than half of them will be represented by a union.

Voting ends Nov. 3 and the results will impact the airline industry and airline passengers in Utah and across the nation.

The group of Delta flight attendants consists of approximately 7,200 former Northwest flight attendants who are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants, and about 13,000 Delta flight attendants who are not represented. The vote is to decide whether or not the group — combined after the Delta-Northwest merger — will have representation.

Also on the ballot is the choice of which union will represent the group should they choose unionization. AFA is the only union on the ballot, but write-in votes are allowed.

If the flight attendants choose representation, then the pre-merger Northwest flight attendants will be covered under their existing contract during the time it takes to negotiate a combined contract for the two groups. The Delta flight attendants will continue under their current work rules and pay scales during the same time frame. If the vote is for no representation, then the pre-merger Northwest flight attendants' contract will expire immediately.

This is the largest group of flight attendants ever to vote under the Railway Labor Act and is the culmination of one of the largest organizing campaigns in the nation today. It will also be the first union representation election held under a new interpretation of the rules of the Railway Labor Act by the National Mediation Board.

In previous elections in the airline industry, every person started off as a "no" vote. That put the onus on the organizers of the unions to get 50 percent-plus one of the entire population, and not just those who vote. That meant that apathy was rewarded as a "no" and any anti-union companies (there are many) would have incentive to bulk up the list of employees.

The new rules, issued on July 1, mean that this election will be conducted the way all other elections in this country are held. The winner of the election will have the majority of the votes cast.

Simple, fair, democratic. This should be a no-brainer, but both of Utah's senators don't seem to think so. They not only signed a letter protesting the rule change, they also voted in favor of Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson's attempt to overturn the change through use of a Senate review. While this may be the usual Republican anti-labor knee-jerk reaction, our senators are ignoring the fact that the majority of the Delta flight attendants based in their home state of Utah agree with the rule change and would rather Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett represent the constituents and not the company.

This election reflects how flight attendants are treated nationwide. We believe that a united flight attendant group, working with a legally binding contract, will ensure not only the safety and comfort of our passengers but will also help our company succeed.

With Delta now the largest airline it would lead the industry. Any changes at Delta in pay or work rules would mean the rest of the airlines would likely follow. With each contract negotiation, Delta would be pointed to as the "norm." On the inverse, if Delta flight attendants lead the industry, the bar would be raised.

But it isn't only about money.  The Association of Flight Attendants has been instrumental in helping to make the profession safer and more secure for not only flight attendants, but for passengers as well. Cabin air quality initiatives brought forth by AFA got smoking off airplanes. Baggage guidelines helped control oversized luggage in the cabin (maybe it's time to look at that again, however). Collective bargaining brings collective caring for all who work in the same career.

Our local economy is affected by the conditions of all flight attendants as well. With pay cuts in the last eight years equaling up to 40 percent reductions in some cases, it means that the money spent on cars, restaurants, schools, and businesses is reduced also. 

This election isn't about us against them. It's about making a job a career. It's about joining a profession instead of being a sidebar discussion in it. But mostly it's about flight attendants making the decision themselves — fairly, democratically and without interference.

Let's hope the senators and the management of Delta Air Lines agree to honor our rights.

Paul Tanner is a union organizer and Salt Lake City-based flight attendant.