A few questions for the Jet Blue pilots on this forum

[JB Bus Drvr]

why do jetblue care about privacy they did not a year or so ago when they gave people private information out? REMEMBER--why does the company care?

Actually, it was about three years ago by request of DOD and Homeland Security. All personal info was deleted but a private contractor bidding on a DOD contract got the info.from DOD and put names and other personal info. on the list and released samples to try to get the business.

Company learned real fast that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. As far as caring, well whether you agree or disagree (not for flame bait), the company really does care for us, the employees, on most things and should be rated well above average in this area.

 

[imfloodedII]

I received someone elses "Welcome to Jetblue" letter after interviewing last year.

 

[Skank]

why do jetblue care about privacy they did not a year or so ago when they gave people private information out? REMEMBER--why does the company care?

A bunch of Airlines were in the same boat. Outrageous, trying to keep terrorists off the airplanes! What were they thinking?

 

[Blue Dude]

1: Does Jet Blue make pilots sign a five year employment contract?

Yes.

2: I have heard that some pilots are not getting their contracts renewed, any truth to this? Are there more than just a few this is happening too? If this is true how do the rank and file pilots feel about this?

No. It's never happened.

3: Why does Jet Blue need an employment contract? If you work for a carrier that doesn't have a collective bargaining agent (union) and they don't have a collective bargaining agreement (contract) isn't it hire and fire at will except for discrimination of some kind?

Among other things, you'll be paid guarantee for the life of the contract. There's a powerful disincentive for furoughing. The contract protection works both ways. And you can only be fired for specific causes, not at will.

4: Does having an employment contract make it harder to organize and get a union on the property?

No more than not having one at all would. If there was a will, there would be a way. There's no will.

5: Is it true Jet Blue doesn't provide a system seniority list with DOB to the pilot group?

There is a master system seniority list, but DOB isn't on it. That info isn't available for privacy reasons. Been there, done that.

6: Is there any talk of union at Jet Blue?

There's always talk. No action, though, and not much talk of any.

7: Lastly is EWR a co domicile with JFK and LGA or is it flown as part of a pairing from other domicles?

EWR isn't a co-domicile. For that matter, LGA isn't a co-domicile with JFK either. The only co-domiciles we have are FLL and PBI.

 

[PCL_128]

As far as caring, well whether you agree or disagree (not for flame bait), the company really does care for us, the employees, on most things and should be rated well above average in this area.

Yeah, it takes a lot of "caring" to pay a professional air line pilot $37/hour to fly a 90-seat jet. And wow, it even goes up to $40/hour the second year! Yipee!!! That kool-aid must taste pretty dang good.

 

[wndshr]

Yeah, it takes a lot of "caring" to pay a professional air line pilot $37/hour to fly a 90-seat jet. And wow, it even goes up to $40/hour the second year! Yipee!!! That kool-aid must taste pretty dang good.

you are right! the 90 seat rate is pretty shabby! Did you ever see the A320 rate when B6 first started?

i might be wrong...but...i would bet that a newhire in the 190 will have better career earning potential than a CRJ captain (as your profile indicates). Maybe better job security too? How much is that worth?

 

[Skygod]

American Airlines first year pay: $35

Continental: $30

Delta: $48

Northwest: $30

United: $30

 

[PCL_128]

i might be wrong...but...i would bet that a newhire in the 190 will have better career earning potential than a CRJ captain (as your profile indicates). Maybe better job security too? How much is that worth?

As for job security, I doubt it. I don't think B6 will still be around 10 years from now. Just my opinion. The only real job security is in cargo nowdays.

You're certainly right about earning potential, but that's not the point. The point is that a 90-seat mainline pilot deserves a heck of a lot more than $40/hour second year. Any company that doesn't realize that isn't a company that "cares" for its employees as much as the B6 guys claim that Blue cares about them.

 

[PCL_128]

American Airlines first year pay: $35

Continental: $30

Delta: $48

Northwest: $30

United: $30

American second year pay: $71

Continental: $55

Delta: $66

Northwest: $57

United: $48

Jetblue: $40

You can try to polish that turd all you want, but those EMB rates are still a stinky, steaming pile. It's time for a union, boys.

 

[wndshr]

As for job security, I doubt it. I don't think B6 will still be around 10 years from now. Just my opinion. The only real job security is in cargo nowdays.

You're certainly right about earning potential, but that's not the point. The point is that a 90-seat mainline pilot deserves a heck of a lot more than $40/hour second year. Any company that doesn't realize that isn't a company that "cares" for its employees as much as the B6 guys claim that Blue cares about them.

you could be right about b6 not being around in ten years...that is the thing about the airline industry...catches a lot of us saying, "who woulda thought that XYZ airline would be gone...those poor guys/gals that got on back in (fill in the blank)" but if i had to place a bet on job security...i would not place a bet on a CRJ in delta colors! of course, just my opinion too!

when you say a 90 seat mainline pilot deserves....you are absolutely right. however, when you DECIDE to take a job at jetblue you are weighing more into the equation than absolute pay. ie, GROWTH, PRODUCTIVITY, PROFIT SHARING, MANAGEMENT, STOCK, ETC (how much do you think former US NW or DAL pilots would give out of their paychecks to find a management team who could actually run an airline? instead they have to give out of their paychecks AND keep the same management!)

if pay is all you want...then i agree...fly cargo and don't look back. unfortunately and fortunately that lifestyle does not agree with every type of pilot. sure, b6 pay in the emb is low....but if the 190 eventually proves itself a winner, the pilots subsidizing the start up costs now will be rewarded. that is what GOOD mangagement does. would you expect the same logic at another carrier?