Delta flight attendants sue over profit-sharing

Six Delta Air Lines flight attendants who once worked for Northwest Airlines have filed a federal lawsuit against Delta, accusing the airline of underpaying them.

They're suing on behalf of some 7,500 Delta flight attendants who once worked under a union contract at Northwest. Cory Caldwell is spokeswoman for their former union, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which is helping with the lawsuit.

"Delta Air Lines management is discriminating against Northwest flight attendants for their previous union membership," Caldwell said. "They have withheld about half of the profit-sharing distribution Delta flight attendants received."

Former Northwest attendants complain their wages are also lower. The union says Delta has said it won't equalize flight attendants' pay unless the union drops a federal claim that the airline interfered in the unionization election last year. The union lost the election.

"Until representation is fully resolved, National Mediation Board rules require that we continue to administer two separate sets of pay, benefits and work rules," Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin said.