ALPA!!! Why don't you want JetBlue???!

[Pilotbob3]

After years of everyone complaining that JB needs a union, why isn't ALPA campainging to get the vote??!! There are 2,010 pilots at JB.

 

[mesaserf]

WE ARE THE BORG…RESISTANCE IS FUTILE…YOUR INDIVIDUAL UNIQUNESS WILL BE ASSIMULATED INTO OUR COLECTIVE….WE ARE THE BORG…

 

[bluefin]

Why would they want ALPA, they are Fu*)ing worthless. They have ruined many lives by going against their own majority. Prater, where's the shortage?

 

[linepilot]

There was an ALPA drive going on while I was still there. From what I heard there wasn't enough support.
Looks like they shifted gears.
Meanwhile, Ford&Harrison advises Jetblue how low to set the bar.
Better get it done fellas.

 

[jetjock6]

The question should be: Why would Jetblue want ALPA?

 

[PinnacleDude]

I think ALPA would like to represent JetBlue. However, the political reality is most JetBlue folks would not vote in ALPA right now. I think ALPA is smart enough to realize that an organized JetBlue is better for all pilots, regardless of who represents them.

FWIW, organizing does not mean that your management is terrible. SWAPA and SWA have coexisted for years in a productive manner, but I am pretty sure just about every SWA pilot is glad to have the union on property.

 

[WayBack]

I think ALPA would like to represent JetBlue. However, the political reality is most JetBlue folks would not vote in ALPA right now. I think ALPA is smart enough to realize that an organized JetBlue is better for all pilots, regardless of who represents them.

FWIW, organizing does not mean that your management is terrible. SWAPA and SWA have coexisted for years in a productive manner, but I am pretty sure just about every SWA pilot is glad to have the union on property.

ALPA is so desperate right now, they're soon to start representing ramp agents.
JB pilots dont want ALPA because they know that ALPA is a political hack that does nothing for the pilot group, only for the good of the Union....I mean Association.

 

[Captain X]

The question should be: Why would Jetblue want ALPA?

The ALPA Media/Comm Department could help them come up with better slogans for the side of the plane?

I mean after it went through Legal Review & Approval and all.

 

[PCL_128]

After years of everyone complaining that JB needs a union, why isn't ALPA campainging to get the vote??!! There are 2,010 pilots at JB.

A group of JetBlue pilots came and talked with ALPA a couple of years ago about starting an ALPA drive, but they determined that there wasn't enough support. They ended up going with the independent union idea instead. Any union is better than no union at all.

 

[waterski]

PCL_128 "If you don't like living with ALPA, try living without ALPA."

You’re joking right?

 

[PCL_128]

Nope.

 

[linepilot]

PCL_128 "If you don't like living with ALPA, try living without ALPA."

You’re joking right?

Do you really think that the dissolution of ALPA would not be detrimental to pilot pay and benefits across the industry?

Pilots are bound and determined to shoot themselves in the foot.

So because ALPA (which is no more than a democratic collection of pilot unions) is imperfect (please name a perfect institution) you would trust your career to airline management?

If you think post 9/11 bankruptcies were bad, just wait till airline managements are given the keys to the store when pilots decide they don't need unions.

Jetblue is a perfect example. Bargain basement pay and benefits. JetBlue has set the low bar for health insurance, work rules, and retirement. They use some blended rate to confuse the pay issue and then they find ways to take away overtime pay.
The only thing keeping it all from going even lower are the unions that are turning things around.

You need to look at a little more history than just the past ten years.

 

[waterski]

Do you really think that the dissolution of ALPA would not be detrimental to pilot pay and benefits across the industry?

Pilots are bound and determined to shoot themselves in the foot.

So because ALPA (which is no more than a democratic collection of pilot unions) is imperfect (please name a perfect institution) you would trust your career to airline management?

If you think post 9/11 bankruptcies were bad, just wait till airline managements are given the keys to the store when pilots decide they don't need unions.

Jetblue is a perfect example. Bargain basement pay and benefits. JetBlue has set the low bar for health insurance, work rules, and retirement. They use some blended rate to confuse the pay issue and then they find ways to take away overtime pay.
The only thing keeping it all from going even lower are the unions that are turning things around.

You need to look at a little more history than just the past ten years.

I’m not saying we don’t need a union at JetBlue. What I’m saying is I think ALPA is not the answer.

 

[PinnacleDude]

Waterski - I don't think PCL128 was saying you that you had to have ALPA at JetBlue.

128 was at Pinnacle and worked hard for the pilots there. I believe his tag line might be in reference to the current state of affairs at his current Union at AirTran. Don't work there so I can't say for sure.

I agree with him 100% that in this industry, any union is better than none. I have met many a pilot that never thought they would unjustly be called before "the man" and were mighty glad to have the representation. Just one man's opinion.

 

[PCL_128]

Waterski - I don't think PCL128 was saying you that you had to have ALPA at JetBlue.

Exactly. I've contributed several times to the JBPA. I just want the JetBlue pilots to have some sort of protection and collective bargaining agent.

128 was at Pinnacle and worked hard for the pilots there. I believe his tag line might be in reference to the current state of affairs at his current Union at AirTran. Don't work there so I can't say for sure.

You are correct. Our independent union is a mess, and I believe it's incapable of being fixed. We need ALPA. That's not to say anything of the JBPA, though. I support the JBPA efforts 100%, and I hope it works out great for you guys.