Jetblue pilots begin organization drive...

[ATR-DRIVR]

That's my .02 and wish you guys the best (except on that transcon turn thing... I hope that falls on its face!)

BBB

PS

Uh...been discussed several times as of late. Way past dead.

 

[kaki]

When September and October came around, the entire pilot group got hit with less flying hours; my schedule was only 73 hours in September and 76 in October. So in one month, a junior Captain sitting on reserve got more money than I did. A legacy carrier with a union would have furloughed so that the senior guys would "hold the line" and get their minimum guaranteed hours. It's not a battle of haves and have-nots. We forget sometimes that we're all on the same team. I'm glad the 190 guys got a raise, they deserved it. Would it have been nice if our side of the house got one too. Yes. But in the middle of Return to Profitability (without wage cuts mind you), if it takes a little patience from our pilots who were hired for their outstanding credentials and potential (unless they smoked and mirrored their way in), then let there be some patience, some calm, to this process. David and Dave spoke today in LGB. They admit to the fact that maybe the PCG was a mistake during RTP. But they addressed the low pay scale on the 190 and are looking into the future package for the 320. You have to trust them. If they didn't trust you guys, they could have easily quit and left for something else with their success story. And, yes, it is a success story. Many of you weren't around post 9/11 at this airline. I remember flying with 8 passengers on board. The airline was a mere year and a half old. We were staring at failure of another upstart airline. But we pulled through it, and we did it with the leadership of David and Dave. That's the fact, and many of you also weren't around when A-320 captains made $78/hour and F/Os $43 either. When did our raise come, retroactively? A couple of months after 9/11... right at the time the other airlines started furloughing in droves...

Blue bayou,

Great post! I share your perspective on the recent pilot road shows at JB and the overall perspective of where B6 was just a few years ago and how far it has come. I have been at B6 for a little over a year. I was with an ALPA carrier before and guess what.... I watched my pay and benefits go down the tubes year after year. Work rules deteriorated to the point where I started questioning wether or not I should stay in the industry. Our so called "contract" was ripped apart in just a few months while ALPA was too busy protecting the "bigger" carriers. I think we have a lot of guys at B6 that don't realy understatnd the full impact of having a union like ALPA represent us. The truth is that no matter what people say about the B6 management it has proven itself in several instances. During my short time at JB I have seen efforts made and actions taken by the management, such as holiday double pay, increased junior-man pay, some RSV improvements, 190 bonus pay, 190 CA/FO pay increases, 401K match increase, PTO increase etc.... all this in a matter of months. If ALPA was on the property none of this would have happened, it would have taken at least a couple of years to get maybe half of what we got in a few months.

A lot of JB pilots are in panic mode right now, and in my opinion they are overreacting. Everyone needs to calm down a bit and put things into perspective, and maybe in a few months re-visit the issue. I personally like working at JB, I have been treated fairly from top to bottom and I will continue to give management the benefit of the doubt for at least a little while longer. Do I want higher pay? YOU BET, do I want more 401K match? YOU BET, do I want better RSV and work rules? YOU BET, do I want the company to survive? YOU BET.....ALPA is NOT the way to get any of that, I guarantee it!

 

[F18-FDX]

Blue bayou,

During my short time at JB I have seen efforts made and actions taken by the management, such as holiday double pay, increased junior-man pay, some RSV improvements, 190 bonus pay, 190 CA/FO pay increases, 401K match increase, PTO increase etc.... all this in a matter of months. If ALPA was on the property none of this would have happened, it would have taken at least a couple of years to get maybe half of what we got in a few months.

All great stuff, definitely not a bad thing. However go back and read my previous post on page 4...all that plus more can be wiped out overnight with an increase in, say healthcare premiums...gotta look at the whole picture. I wish you guys luck with whatever you choose.

 

[kaki]

All great stuff, definitely not a bad thing. However go back and read my previous post on page 4...all that plus more can be wiped out overnight with an increase in, say healthcare premiums...gotta look at the whole picture. I wish you guys luck with whatever you choose.

Good point! and I certainly don't like healthcare premiums going up. But how in the world is ALPA or any other union lower my healthcare premiums?

By the way I'm happy to see you guys get pay raises and contract improvements, you deserve it!, however, you can't really compare the ALPA representation you guys have with the one JB would get. Yours would always be stronger...hands down...after all your dues are much higher and more important to ALPA.

 

[FNG_that's me]

Good point! and I certainly don't like healthcare premiums going up. But how in the world is ALPA or any other union lower my healthcare premiums?

I believe the term is 'Collective Bargaining Agreement.'

The RLA is a pain in the ass, but it's better than what management can do to you without a contract...if they ever decide they want to.

And before you say: 'look what happened to the lecacy carriers even with representation,' ask youself how bad it would have been without it.

 

[Big Beer Belly]

Uh...been discussed several times as of late. Way past dead.

Then how about... are you guys still cleaning the airplane between flights? Is that way past dead also?

BBB

 

[Little Bubba]

Then how about... are you guys still cleaning the airplane between flights? Is that way past dead also?

BBB

From the JB site...

• When working or traveling on JetBlue flights, and if time permits, all capable Crewmembers are asked to assist with light cleaning of the aircraft

 

[Big Beer Belly]

From the JB site...

If I went to dine at a restaurant and caught the chef scrubbing the toilet or mopping up in between preparing meals I'd bolt on the spot! Perhaps the B6 clientele are less discriminating?

BBB

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Yeah, I'm sure swapa and apa are loosing sleep everynight since alpa is not on their properties.

They are not losing sleep cause when they need financial data in section 6 they call ALPA and get the info they need to negotiate their contracts....

 

[fr8doggie]

SWA pilots dont seem to need representation. They have a management team that has things humming and is willing to pay for peace. But remember when you're at the top of the pile you make a better target!

In the long run like 'em or not bigger unions have bigger war chest. With 66,000 chipping in 2% they should be!

Ummm, ever heard of SWAPA?

 

[Big Beer Belly]

Uh...been discussed several times as of late. Way past dead.

I just read (literally) on another thread that Neeleman is still pursuing it and wants "increased productivity". Thinks there shouldn't be a flight time max per day but rather a duty time max per day. Sure sounds like you guys just might have opened up that Pandora's box (for the industry!) that so many of us warned you guys about. Gee, I can't wait to read what you guys will be requesting an exemption for next. :angryfire

BBB

 

[clickclickboom]

If I went to dine at a restaurant and caught the chef scrubbing the toilet or mopping up in between preparing meals I'd bolt on the spot! Perhaps the B6 clientele are less discriminating?

BBB

Lets see this week 4 Day trip 4 legs 24 hours of credit.. Actually just over 25 counting ground delays.

Took garbage bag off co pilots armrest, walked rearward picked up some headsets, crossed a few seatbelts, collected 2 car magazines, asked the inflight if i could get them something to eat turned around deposited magazines into chart bin in cockpit walked to awesome burrito place, pressed a few buttons on the fms pushed back from gate, pulled out table ate burrito.

See your speculation of the so called " cabin cleaning " and the reality as an employee here are two completely different realities.

The reality is that I have had more than one passenger see me help out with cleaning and make a positive comment. One guy even said to me " Wow you must be a shareholder " I said yes sir as a matter of fact I am

 

[F18-FDX]

Good point! and I certainly don't like healthcare premiums going up. But how in the world is ALPA or any other union lower my healthcare premiums?

I'll tell you exactly how, by putting healtcare into the CBA. We have a healthcare plan totally separate from the rest of the company, negotiated in the CBA. So the company can't raise premiums on a whim (like they have) for EVREYBODY ELSE at the company except the pilots.

By the way I'm happy to see you guys get pay raises and contract improvements, you deserve it!, however, you can't really compare the ALPA representation you guys have with the one JB would get. Yours would always be stronger...hands down...after all your dues are much higher and more important to ALPA.

Doesn't matter, once we became ALPA, we got full access to the resources everybody else has...earnings and dues are cyclic and those who are making money help those who are not by default...hence the "union", everybody in it together for the long haul.

 

[Big Beer Belly]

Lets see this week 4 Day trip 4 legs 24 hours of credit.. Actually just over 25 counting ground delays.

For me... hmmm, oh yeah I flew 3 legs over a 2-day trip (with a 27hr layover ) ...81.25 hrs credit as that's all I've done the last month on reserve.

Glad to hear the cleaning thing is working out for you!

BBB

 

[scoreboard]

I'll tell you exactly how, by putting healtcare into the CBA. We have a healthcare plan totally separate from the rest of the company, negotiated in the CBA. .

Hows that work, do you have a list of procedures they pay for or is it a % thing or what? Curious.

 

[CAL EWR B737]

My two cents:

It doesn't matter what union you have if you don't have strong leadership and a unified pilot group behind them (local leadership in ALPA's case). That being said ALPA provides a very strong tool box especially compared to a fledging independent union with limited resources.

In less than two weeks ALPA will have a new leader at the top who with a new vision. I for one think you should give ALPA a shot. Ok flame away.

 

[Daddy]

Beats what you have now...that's for sure

 

[AKAAB]

Serious question - once a company recognizes any group representing the workers, doesn't that make the requirement for the first round of voting to organize unnecessary? I thought I read some comment to that effect here some time ago.

If that is the case, does the Pilot Compensation Group that was formed with management-picked pilots and pilots elected to represent them (Values Committee) meet that criteria?

Please educate me about this provision of the labor laws.

 

[Skank]

For me... hmmm, oh yeah I flew 3 legs over a 2-day trip (with a 27hr layover ) ...81.25 hrs credit as that's all I've done the last month on reserve.

Glad to hear the cleaning thing is working out for you!

BBB

yeah, but that not working thing is hell on your figure...the picture proves it.

 

[Lear70]

They are not losing sleep cause when they need financial data in section 6 they call ALPA and get the info they need to negotiate their contracts....

Oh God,,, here we go again.

For me... hmmm, oh yeah I flew 3 legs over a 2-day trip (with a 27hr layover ) ...81.25 hrs credit as that's all I've done the last month on reserve.

You can't seriously be comparing UPS pay to JBLU pay, can you?