Obviously this will get heated, that is just how these things work.
Been at jetblue a while, seen a lot of changes, some good, some bad, well, mostly bad.
Since the revised contract of 2002, I have gone down in purchasing power, and medical cost have gone up, up and away. Today, someone who was a Captain under the 2002 contract, makes the less today. The longevity step is less than inflation. The PCRB showed what our pay should be adjusted for inflation, we are 10-15/hr below that. In addition, we are, even discounting SWA and the freight carriers, below average in straight hourly compensation, but let us not forget, that we have no retirement plan other than a 401(K) with a company match less than industry standard.
The PCRB report and the MIT airline study shows us to at the bottom in just about all areas, 401(K), trip rigs, duty rigs, allowable working hours, PTO hours etc., etc.
As for furloughing, there is actually talk that we might be hiring in the not so distant future, take that fwiw. Look at the bid divisors, it really never hit 70, consistently above, heck, look at December.
As for the JBPA, who is to say, that they do not negotiate similar to what we have now, a potential lowering of the bid divisor to keep from furloughing.
The company is coming out with guns blazing, terms such as "zeroing contracts, starting from scratch, against furloughing, potential raises but in laboratory conditions" are rife in their emails. Well, that is no different than the abusive husband who promises to stop beating his wife!
Reread the PCRB conclusion, reead the MIT study that JR has never seen and if you still don't believe we have something to gain from representation, than don't vote.
6+ years have shown me, that the company isn't about to live up to the promises given!
