Delta Air Lines' flight attendants rejected a push made by the union in the first leg of a huge labor organizing drive at the world’s second largest airline by traffic.

The Association of Flight Attendants said it plans to file an interference claim against Delta’s management for threatening union supporters, a charge Delta has rejected.

A total of 9,544 votes were made against joining the AFA union while 8,778 were made in favor. Voting ended on Wednesday after a five-week campaign of often intense rhetoric on both sides.

Separate elections covering 14,000 ramp workers and 16,500 gate and reservation agents end November 18th and December 7th respectively.

The separate groups are voting on whether to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers or IAM.

Source: WSJ