JetBlue Pilot News

[FADEC]

Full Blown JBPA Meeting took place today at the Ramada Inn JFK.. 150 + attended and the call in maximum for the conference call was 150 and it was full.

The President of SWAPA was there along with the Coalition of Airline Pilot Associations. Both offered some excellent information.

The Legal Team was there and they are operating ProBono until we are organized.

Recent management responses against unions have added only more supporters to the ranks.

With the Support and guidance of the SWAPA the JBPA drive should be a success.

Here is the breakdown of the union support:

Top 100 guys that all make over $200,000 a year that do not support it.

100-700 Probably 50% support it however I have not flown with a Captain in 4 months that did not think that the JBPA is a good idea

700-1600 Everybody else that wishes they were making 200k plus that already sent in their cards.

1600-2000 Guys that came from commuter jobs, are just happy to be here, and think that everything blue rules.

I respectfully disagree with your assertion that the top 100 pilots want nothing to do with a union. Personally I am a E190 CA in the 1000 seniority range and the guys here at the top have so much more to loose than you or I. I suggest that you go onto BP and read bobodog's meeting highlights. Pay particular attention to the comments about M&A and the value off our individual pilot contracts. The senior guys have way too much to loose. I fully support our union drive.

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

Sorry if its been asked before but when is the vote supposed to take place. Thanks.

After 50% +1 turn in cards then the pilot group can vote for representation. Like I said before, they have not gotten 50% +1. No vote until then.

Don't think that's right. It's only 35% to have a vote, but most organizing efforts wait until they have significantly more to petition for a vote. More than 50% have to then vote for representation for it to succeed. Whichever agent receives the most votes will represent the group.

http://www.nmb.gov/representation/faqs-ola.html
7. Q: What is a showing of interest?
A: A showing of interest is the percentage of the craft or class that has signed authorization cards. An application must be supported by an adequate showing of interest, in the form of employee authorization cards. Authorizations will be considered invalid if dated more than one year prior to the date on the NMB application. If the craft or class is already represented under the RLA and is covered by a valid existing collective bargaining agreement, the application must be supported from a majority (50% plus one) of valid authorization cards by employees in the craft or class. If the craft or class is unrepresented, the application must be supported by at least 35% of valid authorization cards by employees in the craft or class

 

[clickclickboom]

Actually, some of the 1600-2000 feel their interestes would not be served by JBPA, since we are just too ignorant to be listened too. With comments like that, Why would we feel that we'd be represented? How many of the Horrible Hundred have wished us furloughed? I hope that's who represents me! Aren't we the ones that are on the poor first and second year pay and a future not as bright as the top 500?

By the way 1600 - 2000 represent about 400 hundred votes. How many in the Horrible Hundred? Ahhhh... a hundred?

Ya may not want to bash us dumb commuter pukes too hard. We do still get to vote.

S

Nobody is bashing you brother.. There will be representation in each respective seniority group. If you feel you could be of service to your fellow employees step up to plate as JBPA needs people like yourself..

 

[clickclickboom]

I respectfully disagree with your assertion that the top 100 pilots want nothing to do with a union. Personally I am a E190 CA in the 1000 seniority range and the guys here at the top have so much more to loose than you or I. I suggest that you go onto BP and read bobodog's meeting highlights. Pay particular attention to the comments about M&A and the value off our individual pilot contracts. The senior guys have way too much to loose. I fully support our union drive.

Fadec I am with you in support and your reply is correct however it has been my experience flying with the top guys here that they are either against or on the fence.. I am around 1200 on the bus

 

[Beechnut]

Nobody is bashing you brother.. There will be representation in each respective seniority group. If you feel you could be of service to your fellow employees step up to plate as JBPA needs people like yourself..

No problem at all. My flight was delayed and I just felt like stiring the pot a little.

S.

 

[Longhorn]

I would say that about 95% of the FO's that I fly with are for a union. About 85% of the 190 CA's that I know are for a union. Most of the 320 FOs that I know are for a union. Even some of my good friends that are 320 CA's and senior are for a union. Yes, there are guys and gals on the fence but it will be interesting to see what happens after the 26th of the month.

 

[AKAAB]

I'm one of the "horrible 100" and I'd like to know how I can make this mythical $200k a year someone claims we make. I've been trying for eight years and can't get close.

And, I'm 100% for JBPA, like most of the other senior pilots. I got off the fence months ago, but Dave Barger's latest email knocked a lot of other guys off the fence and onto the pro-JBPA side.

 

[ualdriver]

I got off the fence months ago, but Dave Barger's latest email knocked a lot of other guys off the fence and onto the pro-JBPA side.

What did Dave Barger's e-mail say?

 

[aewanabe]

Basically he put it in the open that we're seeking a union and stated he was categorically against it; then comment thread on the company website was opened so all the uneducated rampers and gate agents could bitch about how selfish and overpaid we are...

For Click Click: kinda a divisive overview man. I'm 1800-ish, glad to be here, came from a mid-grade "commuter", and sent in my card months ago. Something about my health-care costs tripling, pen-and-ink changes to my work conditions, etc...

 

[Fins Up]

I a military guy not much interested in unions. I have been at JB for 2+ years and am very happy here. While I do respect Dave and friends are don't have a specific beef with them, I sent in my card months ago. There is a lot of stuff out there that is beyond their control - that's mostly what motivates me to support JBPA.

I don't know Mike Sorbie or the other interim officers, but is seems like they want an organization that management can get along with. I think we're looking more for protections than payraises that revenue can't support.

 

[ualdriver]

Basically he put it in the open that we're seeking a union and stated he was categorically against it; then comment thread on the company website was opened so all the uneducated rampers and gate agents could bitch about how selfish and overpaid we are...

Of course he's categorically against it! Well, good luck to you guys. I think it's in the best interest of our profession that all pilots be unionized (and even better under one union!), so I hope that the JBPA drive is successful, and soon. Unless, of course, your rampers and CSR's disagree

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm glad JB decided to go internal.

 

[ualdriver]

I'm glad JB decided to go internal.

That's great that they decided to go internal, but I hope that one of the first things the JBPA does is get a JBPA-PAC started. There are many issues EXTERNAL to JetBlue that may adversely affect their career expectations (and all airline pilots for that matter), so it would be great to get a couple thousand more pilots trying to influence Washington's decisions as they concern airline pilots. Maybe a JBPA-PAC could reach out to other non-union airline pilots out there and get them to contribute to a JBPA-PAC as well because, of course,a JBPA-PAC won't be as "evil" as the ALPA-PAC is, for example, and perhaps more pallatable for the ALPA haters to contribute to.

Just dreaming out loud, I guess....

 

[ualdriver]

I'm glad JB decided to go internal.

That's great that they decided to go internal, but I hope that one of the first things the JBPA does is get a JBPA-PAC started. There are many issues EXTERNAL to JetBlue that may adversely affect their career expectations (and all airline pilots for that matter), so it would be great to get a couple thousand more pilots trying to influence Washington's decisions as they concern airline pilots. Maybe a JBPA-PAC could reach out to other non-union airline pilots out there and get them to contribute to a JBPA-PAC as well because, of course,a JBPA-PAC won't be as "evil" as the ALPA-PAC is, for example, and perhaps more pallatable for the ALPA haters to contribute to.

Just dreaming out loud, I guess....

 

[AKAAB]

I believe JBPA will join CAPA in order to have a presence outside of JetBlue instead of just internally. Nothing is set in stone, but we all recognize that the world doesn't just revolve around Forest Hills.