Delta Board Council
Encyclopedia
The Delta Board Council represents the non-contract
employees of Delta Air Lines
to the company's executive management and the Board of Directors
.
The Council was formed in 1996, and is currently comprised by one representative from each of Delta's major employee operating units: Airport Customer Service
, Inflight Service, Management and Administrative employees, Reservation
Sales
, and Technical Operations. The DBC is tasked with holding employee meetings at every level below corporate director to gauge feedback and disseminate information.
It then meets with the company's officer corp and Board of Directors, usually in private session, to present the gathered feedback, thus allowing a clear line of communication "from the break room to the Board room." In unprecedented fashion at a non-union
carrier, on a rotating basis, one DBC member is allowed access to all Board meetings and has historically presented information on topics of interest to the Board.
Moreover, the DBC member in the Board Room attends the Audit
Committee functions of the Board. While the DBC works usually behind the scenes with Delta's leadership and the Board, it played a critical and visible role in Delta's rejection of US Airways' hostile takeover attempt initiated by CEO Doug Parker on November 15, 2006. Within hours of the bid, the Board Council began working on a counterattack and its members were credited with coining the "Keep Delta My Delta!" slogan that quickly permeated the entire airline
via buttons, wrist bands, lanyard
s, pens, and window clings. That tagline
was also adopted by Delta in the creation of the Website
keepdeltamydelta.org, which presented a wide array of arguments in opposition to Airways' proposal.
On November 17, 2006, two days after US Airways announced its intention to buy Delta Air Lines, the Board Council published an open letter
to all Delta employees first unveiling the Keep Delta My Delta! theme. The eruption of support for Keep Delta My Delta! soon migrated to loyal customers who added the aforementioned memo to such Websites as flyertalk.com and themselves began requesting Keep Delta My Delta! items. On December 13, 2006, the DBC and Delta pilot
representatives organized a Keep Delta My Delta! rally
at the Georgia
International Convention Center.
Estimates suggest the crowd numbered between 3,000 and 4,500 employees, retirees, and community supporters. Among the speakers were Georgia state and local politicians, Delta pilots, and the Delta Board Council. It is considered by Delta employees to be the turning point in terms of labor relations
, as Mr. Parker's offer to buy Delta resulted in a unified workforce in opposition to the takeover bid that according to Delta employees eliminated divisional friction and, most important, festered animosity among ground employees and Delta's pilots. Ultimately, despite initial skepticism from analysts, the campaign to Keep Delta My Delta! presented a labor obstacle that added to the already-uncertain regulatory and operational challenges that could not be overcome. On January 31, 2007, US Airways withdrew its offer to buy Delta Air Lines.
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
employees of Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
to the company's executive management and the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
.
The Council was formed in 1996, and is currently comprised by one representative from each of Delta's major employee operating units: Airport Customer Service
Customer service
Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase.According to Turban et al. , “Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer...
, Inflight Service, Management and Administrative employees, Reservation
Reservation
Reservation may refer to:* Indian reservation, in the United States* Indian reserve, in Canada* Indigenous Territory, in Brazil* Reservation , a caveat to a treaty* Table reservation, for restaurant seating...
Sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
, and Technical Operations. The DBC is tasked with holding employee meetings at every level below corporate director to gauge feedback and disseminate information.
It then meets with the company's officer corp and Board of Directors, usually in private session, to present the gathered feedback, thus allowing a clear line of communication "from the break room to the Board room." In unprecedented fashion at a non-union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
carrier, on a rotating basis, one DBC member is allowed access to all Board meetings and has historically presented information on topics of interest to the Board.
Moreover, the DBC member in the Board Room attends the Audit
Audit
The general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. The term most commonly refers to audits in accounting, but similar concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and energy conservation.- Accounting...
Committee functions of the Board. While the DBC works usually behind the scenes with Delta's leadership and the Board, it played a critical and visible role in Delta's rejection of US Airways' hostile takeover attempt initiated by CEO Doug Parker on November 15, 2006. Within hours of the bid, the Board Council began working on a counterattack and its members were credited with coining the "Keep Delta My Delta!" slogan that quickly permeated the entire airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
via buttons, wrist bands, lanyard
Lanyard
A lanyard is a rope or cord exclusively worn around the neck or wrist to carry something. Usually it is used where there is a risk of losing the object or to ensure it is visible at all times. Aboard a ship, it may refer to a piece of rigging used to secure objects...
s, pens, and window clings. That tagline
Tagline
A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...
was also adopted by Delta in the creation of the Website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
keepdeltamydelta.org, which presented a wide array of arguments in opposition to Airways' proposal.
On November 17, 2006, two days after US Airways announced its intention to buy Delta Air Lines, the Board Council published an open letter
Open letter
An open letter is a letter that is intended to be read by a wide audience, or a letter intended for an individual, but that is nonetheless widely distributed intentionally....
to all Delta employees first unveiling the Keep Delta My Delta! theme. The eruption of support for Keep Delta My Delta! soon migrated to loyal customers who added the aforementioned memo to such Websites as flyertalk.com and themselves began requesting Keep Delta My Delta! items. On December 13, 2006, the DBC and Delta pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
representatives organized a Keep Delta My Delta! rally
Rally
Rally refers to a gathering, as in:* Political rally, a demonstration, march, or parade* Pep rally, an event held at a United States school or college sporting eventRally as a sports term can also refer to:* Rallying, a category of motorsport...
at the Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
International Convention Center.
Estimates suggest the crowd numbered between 3,000 and 4,500 employees, retirees, and community supporters. Among the speakers were Georgia state and local politicians, Delta pilots, and the Delta Board Council. It is considered by Delta employees to be the turning point in terms of labor relations
Labor relations
Industrial relations is a multidisciplinary field that studies the employment relationship. Industrial relations is increasingly being called employment relations because of the importance of non-industrial employment relationships. Many outsiders also equate industrial relations to labour relations...
, as Mr. Parker's offer to buy Delta resulted in a unified workforce in opposition to the takeover bid that according to Delta employees eliminated divisional friction and, most important, festered animosity among ground employees and Delta's pilots. Ultimately, despite initial skepticism from analysts, the campaign to Keep Delta My Delta! presented a labor obstacle that added to the already-uncertain regulatory and operational challenges that could not be overcome. On January 31, 2007, US Airways withdrew its offer to buy Delta Air Lines.