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20,000 Delta flight attendants began voting in a union election that will run through November 3. Baggage and cargo carriers are voting through November 18, and Ticket and reservation agents and materials and logistics agents will begin voting in November and December. Both of the groups beginning the election process include former Northwest employees who were unionized. Delta has one of the least unionized workforces in the industry. The unions say that they are attempting to overcome the image of Delta as a paternalistic figure and to convince workers that collective bargaining will benefit them. Delta says that they urge all workers to vote, but that they want to preserve their culture. The vote comes after the National Mediation Board changed the rules on voting to a system that some think gives unions the advantage.