Playing video games is way better – and cheaper – than joining a union.
That is the narrative behind a campaign of ‘union busting’ by Delta Air Lines which has been roundly mocked by the public and politicians.
A series of anti-union posters targeting employees have been publicly leaked and gone viral and caused widespread outrage.
They all have a similar theme: "Union dues cost around $700 a year. A new video game system with the latest hits sounds fun. Put your money towards that instead of paying dues to the union," one says.
Each of the posters directs workers to a website called ‘Don’t risk it, don’t sign it,’ which makes various claims of wrongdoing by the International Association of Machinists union.
The campaign has been described as ‘juvenile and insulting.’
"Delta has resorted to defaming and spewing lies and misrepresentations about the IAM. They also continually display anti-IAM propaganda in the workplace. These are all hallmark signs of how well the IAM campaigns are doing and how scared Delta is of their employees having a voice in their careers," the union said.
"The day when Delta ramp workers and flight attendants will finally be able to bargain for the compensation, benefits and work rules they deserve is coming quickly, and that has Delta terrified."
The IAM represents more than 110,000 airline employees in North America.
Presidential hopeful for 2020, Sen. Bernie Sanders was among several politicians who slammed Delta’s tactics.
"Stop trying to undercut workers’ right to form a union and negotiate for better wages," he tweeted.
A large number of customers have threatened to boycott the carrier.
Delta is talking up the ‘direct relationship’ it has with the workforce to negotiate working conditions and salary.
"They want and deserve the facts and we respect our employees’ right to decide if a union is right for them,” the airline said.
