I think I said 10-15%, didn't I? Stop embellishing!
OK so it will maybe be closer to 10. I think we'll be able to scrape by on that.
They had 30 yrs to build up their cash reserves in an environment that was much different than today, and to my knowledge they never had an adversarial relationship with SWAPA (even though I'm predicting them thar days are over...too many former legacy zealots). Jetblue has a small window to get it right in the next few years, and their mgt has already proven that they are not infallable to making a wrong turn.
You are right about that. A small window to get it right. And they've messes up a lot lately. We shall see how they choose to proceed. Oh and that wonderful working relationship, wether it be ALPA, SWAPA, JBPA or whoever, will never come from a hostile management team calling their plays from the Ford and Harrison playbook.
You can't use CASM as a marker when you are flying an average stage length of over 1000mi.
Our stage length has decreased a lot this year. Any way you slice it, we are a rock bottom, dirt cheap, highly productive labor source. We should at least not be penalized for that.
So what's wrong with everyone being productive? Did it change your QOL?
It affects QOL, at JetBlue just as it does at SWA. That's fine, if there's a tradeoff, like there is at SWA. But when your productivity is disregarded entirely, or worse, used against you (and I think you know what I'm talking about) then that's a problem.
You've already proven to me you're not a team player with your comments that the little guy will have to eat cake.
Not a team player? Are you kidding me? I'm extra effort, above and beyond, motivated dedicated to the core. It takes 11 guys on a football team to score a touchdown, and all are equally motivated to work towards getting a championship ring. But the quarterback makes more than a lineman, and that's A-OK with me. If the lineman can't handel it, he can go to QB tryouts. JB loves to promote from within. Any FA, gate agent, ramper, etc who covets the job/pay/future B fund, etc of a pilot can put in his app. He/she will be treated with extreme preference once he/she meets minimum (or probably reduced) qualifications. But an entry level job with w few days/weeks of training is an entry level job, period. I did entry level jobs in aviation before, so have many others. I wanted more so I moved on. It never even occured to me to forever accept the very self imposed status quo that irked me, then turn around and unrighteously covet the hard earned prosperity of other professions. Its not about eating cake. This is America. You don't like your lot, rise above. But be prepared to work/train/get educated for it. I have little tolerance for pinkos who think they can get an entry level job with little or no education, experience or training required, punch the clock for years while never trying to better themselves or move up, then feel entitled to professional parity with others who'se cost of entry into what they percieve as a cushy gig is quite simply beyond their comprehension. Its not me telling them to eat cake my friend. Its them telling me to eat cake, and me politely telling them, with all due respect, to get over it.
I personally would like to see an in-house union on the property, but beginning in 2008. Hopefully, they will take a Que from SWAPA's early leadership and partner to build the company's war chest so that they can remain viable during the next downturn. I must say that I am skeptical having read the comments from other participants that are itching for a fight. I still think private is the way to go for Jetblue as that will shut off the realtime flow of financial information to the employee groups (the catalyst of the current unrest).
What's the difference between 2007 and 2008? If its an amicable relationship in the first place, what difference does it make when it starts? If we need to and decice to unionize, there are pros and cons to both national (ALPA, IBT, etc) unions and in house. You can't accuse the pilots of "itching for a fight" and not accuse some leaders/managers of the same. It works both ways. How the powers that be handel things these next few short months will likely determine the necessary equal and opposite reaction from its pilots both short and long term. I don't know anyone who'se "itching for a fight" or who wants to burn the house down, or choke the golden goose. Everyone I've met wants JB to suceed, and not just barely. But, as always, management will get the type of union (if at all) that they deserve. It can be like SWAPA, even if its ALPA. Or not. The pilots are only half of the equation.
