For those that cannot recognize it, ITS is fishing for comments about the lack of a union contract at Jetblue.
Tired line, tired subject. When the JB crewforce decides they've been screwed and need a union, I'm sure they'll get one. In the meantime, they seem to have found a way to make things work without one effectively. I'm a proud ALPA member, but I'm at a company where I think collective bargaining has proven to be required. JetBlue has so far found a way to keep most of their crew force happy.
I'm not pro union, or pro company. I am pro-pilot. If ALPA works for you--great. If you want your own union (APA, SWAPA, IPA), there are certainly some valid reasons. If you can get by without a union and still get the job done, good on ya...
For what its worth, if Jetblue has a variety of guys and gals from across the spectrum. They've got furloughees from Delta, American, United, and Northwest. They've got guys straight out of the military. Some of their pilots are from regional and corporate backgrounds. There is plenty of expertise on unions already on the property if they decide they need to organize. So far, they haven't. Why that completely chaps some outsiders is beyond me. I gladly pay my union dues at FedEx and am thrilled to be A) part of a great company and B) part of a proud union. However, I don't feel compelled to tell my neighbors how to mow their lawn or trim their shrubs, and I don't feel compelled to tell the guys at other companies how to run their crew forces.
