I Went From Opposing to Organizing a Union For Flight Attendants

Becky Ley has been a flight attendant at Delta for 34 years. She used to be against the union drive. Now she’s one of the union’s most passionate organizers. This is her story.
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[@MrBaskins2010]

I’m proud of her for speaking out. Workers of the world must unite

[@thomaskearney9034]

The lady summed it up unequivocally and stayed on point. If you are - for any reason - called into the office by your boss - without union- backing - you are there, alone and at the benevolence of your employer.

[@rickb3650]

I want to know what was done to her friend. We have to remember that a company is a dictatorship and only a union can give workers a voice that can't be silenced.

[@NotShowingOff]

I think that if it’s explained in basic ppl will be asking too many detail of which she wants to keep private

[@gabrielehanne580]

I know what that feels like ! Thanks for speaking up . It's the only way to bring about the change we all want and need .

[@BruceWaynesaysLandBack]

The final major airline without a union? Time to close that gap!

[@annietiques1803]

Delta pilots have a union but it's the only group of employees that are unionized. It's about time that flight attendants and other employees are unionized at Delta. If it's good enough for the pilots, it's good enough for the rest of the employees.

[@ShubhamBhushanCC]

Letting your work define your identity is a recipe for disaster

[@NotShowingOff]

You spend vast majority of your waking hours doing it. It should be a part of your identity. But you can’t just tow the company line and think things are fine. It makes you susceptible to abuse

[@yaash4123]

Are you kidding? People spend their lives learning a trade.

[@zachhunt123]

The rugged individualist mindset in this country is powerful. We've been indoctrinated to think we shouldn't expect some form of assistance through life. Everything we have must be earned through excessive hard work and sacrifice. Unless, of course, you're born into wealth.

[@NotShowingOff]

She isn’t telling the whole story. I think she has it straight in her head, but she is polishing it up. The purpose of the union is to make sure that the employees are protected from abusive labor practices. In particular, it’s to keep the management of the company honest about the mission of the company and not simply launder money.

[@desert.mantis]

I support unionizing Delta's flight attendants. I want my flight attendants to love their work and be treated well.

[@craigbrowning9448]

On the first commercial flights (1930s) the stewardesses were actually nurses.

[@frankisawesomee]

Corporations do not care about passengers or employees. They care solely on PROFITS and giving back to BILLIONAIRE shareholders. The stock market around 40-50% is owned by BILLIONAIRES worldwide. Delta Flight Attendants have the right to unionize if they so desire. According to STATS, Unions tend to have BETTER pay and BETTER benefits. Our world is ever changing and COSTS are RISING. In order to counteract these issues CORPORATIONS must and SHOULD pay there employees better. Shareholders should not be the TOP priority. Your flight attendants , baggage claim, ticket counter, etc employees ARE your must crucial and VITAL employees. Without them you are NOTHING. God bless :)

[@drwalka10]

how do they continue to gain profit without providing the needs of flight costumers ?

[@frankisawesomee]

@@drwalka10 cause they don’t give refunds and they do not care about people.

[@ScrotumWizard]

@@drwalka10 they gain profits by growing and stamping out competition. That way they can provide worse services at higher costs, which means more money for the airline.

[@gloriasantos4603]

Good blessed you had the World's people's likes are you. Thanks so much 🙏

[@dsy1081]

The pilots tried to tell the FAs that unionizing was the way to go back when they had the vote after the Northwest merger. They should have listened back then, but hopefully they do now.

[@ky_1219]

All power to the union! But I’ll doubt she’ll be as big of a fan of delta when the flight attendants go to unionize lol

[@em_yu]

awesome

[@leelindsay5618]

I am a proud supporter of Delta unionizing - I got the pin & stickers to prove it! As a union member in my own industry, unions are the only reason we get paid overtime, paid holidays, paid sick and vacation, and decent benefits.

[@sd20967]

Enjoy your union dues

[@edc3743]

Clever. Correct, too. But ***who's soul*** have you got inside, sister?!

[@clickbait007]

It's really troubling that something has to happen to them or to someone close to them for some people to understand that the purpose of a corporation is to make money and if they can cut corners, force staff to work free overtime they will do that! Corporations and CEOs have a fiduciary responsibility to make the maximum returns for their shareholders! That is why Unions are important, the Unions fiduciary responsibility is to represent the workers to the best of their ability. It's just like insurance, better to have and not need then to need it and not have it!

[@peterwalrond2058]

The time is now brother's and sister's, no matter color, age, or sexual preference. As a laborer myself I say fight for better wages and job security! Organize, unionize and punch these white collar crime corporation syndicates in the face!!!!!

[@christijackson6890]

I’m really surprise she’s saying this. Most of what she’s saying is untrue and without merit. If you’re going to quote someone, say their name. IJS smh 🤦‍♀️

[@romanski5811]

Well, she's basing this on what happened to a close friend of hers at Delta. Of course, that close friend could be lying about everything to her.

[@kobygaddie4928]

Ha shes so easily influenced like most people in the US. This is why we need real leaders, not politicians in 2022

[@vote4democracyvotedemocrat154]

👍👍

[@bradhays5961]

wow….🤔

[@heathrealestate3]

We make 80$ topped out with no skill set. What in the world are you complaining about. Only company who didn't force a jab. While the afa was demanding it. No thank you.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

Can all in breadtube, and adjacent to it, please start educating people about both: (1) the difference between right-authoritarian vs. right-libertarian; & (2) the difference between left-authoritarian vs left-libertarian? It’s long overdue. People aren’t cattle or sheep: They will understand if we educate them. Though we need to educate (& learn) about all the nuance.

[@par3me]

Unions have a proven track record of destroying industries over the last several decades. I wish you luck on your journey of learning the hard way. 👍🏼

[@agoniaXdunya]

Conglomerates have done an amazing job destroying Union jobs, but guess what they still need to function- LABOR.

[@par3me]

@@agoniaXdunya They’ve done wonders for our kids through the teachers unions. They’ve now fucked themselves during COVID and you’ll start to see money following kids instead of the school. Like they’re doing in Arizona. Teacher unions have destroyed public education. Follow the teachers union growth along side our educational results. Police unions… do you need me to get into the details? Automotive, locomotive, trades, communication workers. They’re strategy is to get more and do less. That’s completing destructive to a business. Just think about your finances. You have money coming in and money going out. If someone was working to shrink the money coming in, while increasing the money going out. How long would you last? It’s really just math. I know it’s not taught in public schools, buts it’s fairly basic. The push for unions within retail and the airlines. Actually stems from there search for new business. If you can’t go back to the industries you’ve destroyed. You’ll need to find new sources of revenue. They’re a business like any other. Self preservation comes prior to your needs.

[@kachow3839]

every other major airline has a union? seriously dude, get your facts right.

[@par3me]

@@kachow3839 How are your flights and what kind of deal are you getting? All business eventually turn to shit for the same reasons socialism doesn’t work. When everyone must be treated based on seniority and not contribution. Those with the skills and work ethic. Eventually leave for better jobs where they’re rewarded based on performance and not length of stay. Eventually you’re left with a bunch of takers looking everyday for ways to do less and make more. Mathematically it’s never sustainable. You’re more than welcome to prove me wrong. I’m only speaking from almost three decades of union experiences on both sides of the line.

[@JuniFFXIVChannel]

​@@par3me I am close with someone who is part of a union, and during the pandemic, they had masks and their safety was taken seriously. I used to think like you, but after seeing how different he was treated vs non-unionized workers, it really woke me up to see how important it is to be unionized. I know some unions have been ran by bad actors, but those bad actors often end up losing their position and going to jail ( like the UAW). When I say "bad actors" I mean people who are taking bribes from the very corporations or misusing funds they're supposed to be defending their members against. The fact that you are concerned about the cost of flights, and not the SAFETY of flights just shows you have no idea what unions are actually capable of and what they're supposed to do, or that you, yourself have never had a good union experience. One of the major reasons why the prices of airline tickets are skyrocketing is because CEOs and shareholders are the ones soaking up all the profit of these companies. The companies aren't putting that money back into their workforce or equipment for improved safety and training. That is just FACT. Also, it doesn't help that some airlines took the bailout money from govt, and got to keep that money, despite laying off employees. "All business eventually turn to shit for the same reasons socialism doesn’t work." Not true. Socialism has significant strengths over capitalism and has it's place in economics and the workplace. Worker co-ops thrived as small businesses shut down, and big businesses were quick to lay off employees. I would argue that in a way, the expedited formations of unions post-pandemic is a sure sign that capitalism is a failed system. When you say "Socialism doesn't work" my question for you is "for whom?" "Eventually you’re left with a bunch of takers looking everyday for ways to do less and make more. Mathematically it’s never sustainable. " What math are you talking about? Unions aren't taking money from the companies. They're taking money from the members to operate. They're called "union dues". Also, these "takers" you're talking about. Who are they? The people company executives leeching off of company profits? This argument isn't based on any facts. You get what you pay for. If you pay low wages, you get low wage work. If you pay high wages, you get high wage work. It's like buying a car for $30 and expecting it to last you 10 years without issues. That's completely unrealistic. The cost of the tickets is irrelevant if the flights keep getting canceled and become unsafe to the point where they're forced to land mid-flight. Go onto Google and type in, "Cancelled flights." There are hundreds of articles that is the proof you are asking for. I appreciate the invitation to prove you wrong. I hope that in the future, unions become as strong and less-corrupt as they once were so that people like you don't have that impression of unions. It's the working class vs those who aren't. It's top vs bottom. Rich vs poor. We gotta work together.

[@1truek269]

It's unfortunate when people only care when it happens to someone who they care about. What if...