Delta Air flight attendants set for union vote

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc said on Tuesday its flight attendants are set to vote between April 23 and June 3 on whether to join a labor union.

The No. 3 U.S. carrier cautioned the workers, saying Delta flight attendants currently have a better working relationship with management than unionized peers at rival airlines.

Currently, Delta's only major unionized labor group is its pilots. If the flight attendants vote to join the Association of Flight Attendants, the workers will rely on that union for representation in contract talks.

Delta, which is seeking to lower its costs to offset its fuel bill, announced last week that it plans to cut 2,000 jobs. The carrier plans to achieve that target through voluntary retirement and buyout packages, which it plans to offer to 30,000 employees.

Delta and its rivals have been battered this year by persistently high fuel prices that erode the stability carriers gained through years of massive restructuring.

Delta shares were up 8 cents at $10.09 on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Reporting by Kyle Peterson; Editing by Andre Grenon)