Jetblue Pilots Vote Union Down

[captain caveman]

...and TWA

 

[CTflyer]

I don't think there are any eastern scabs at Jetblue. That would be Airtran. There are, however, lots of USair.

Actually we have 2 or 3 Eastern scabs at JB.

 

[Daytonaflyer]

Well this isn't a surprise. It's actually quite typical for the first union vote. When the union drive begins, the senior pilots earning over $150K/yr usually come out strong against union representation. Their seemingly "educated" comments tend to sway many newer, younger, less experienced pilots who in return vote "no" for union representation.

Management breathes a sigh of relief, the senior pilots go back to their homes with their swimming pools and Merdedes Benz's, and the junior pilots go back to their apartments and crash pads thinking they made a good decision; yet they have a lingering concern in the back of their minds.

The following year, the majority of the pilot group begin to realize that they are not the ones bringing home $150K+ and they are not enjoying the fruits of their labor as much as those who voted against the union. The management continues business as usual; pissing off pilots, abusing work rules, and offering nothing in the way of improvements.

The second attempt at unionization usually passes with an overwhelming majority vote. And it only wasted a couple years, thousands of work hours, and many of your hard earned dollars for the rest of the pilot group to pull their heads out of their butts.

I'm sure someday the exact same process will unfold at my airline.

 

[fifty30retard]

This is a truly unfortunate vote for Jet Blue and the industry.

For those of you on the losing side, this is only the beginning. Stay strong, continue to educate your fellow pilots, and don’t give up the fight.

AA767AV8TOR

Great post. Just be nice to the B6 jumpseaters, at least there were 646 of us that voted yes.

 

[nosoupforyou!]

Great post. Just be nice to the B6 jumpseaters, at least there were 646 of us that voted yes.

Including me.

 

[shadesofBS]

My personal action plan.

1. I will never clean another cabin.
2. Public Relations isn't in my pilot agreement and I was never very good at it anyway. There are enough things to worry about in the flight deck and face time in the cabin isn't a good idea with my attitude.
3. When I'm off the clock, it's time to go home.

 

[GuppyPuppy]

While I am disappointed in the results, I hope that next time an ALPA drive will begin. Maybe folks will start to realize that without a union, we will continue to get walked on by management.

I voted for ALPA and will do so next time as well.

GP
Member of the 33%.

 

[jbucpt]

Here's my $.02 given my many years in the airline business: I think you guys made a TERRIBLE mistake. You had a chance and you blew it again.

You need leverage nowadays. How did Southwest get raises during one of the worst recessions in history? How did Netjets get the leading pay/benefits package in the fractional industry by a huge margin? You need collective bargaining to protect your interests and to ensure you are not played with by management. It's called bargaining leverage... I guess your former Eastern scab pilots won again.

Herculean mistake. Don't complain now that you've made your bed - you need to sleep in it.

bargaining leverage??? where have you been the last 8 years einstein?? please explain:

united pilots bargaining leverage the last 8 years..

usair pilots bargaining leverage??

twa pilots bargaining leverage??

delta/nwa seniorty determined by ONE MAN- the
arbitrator...alot of bargaining leverage there.

airtrans bargaining leverage under the RLA the last 4+ years.

yeah, im impressed with the "bargaining leverage" that airline unions have had the last 8 years.

 

[Blue Dude]

Pot. Kettle. Black.

Show me where there was bargaining *at all* at JetBlue for the last almost 10 years. Result: less than industry average in almost every area even after everyone else's concessions.

*crickets*

 

[Deli Guy]

Here's my $.02 given my many years in the airline business: I think you guys made a TERRIBLE mistake. You had a chance and you blew it again.

You need leverage nowadays. How did Southwest get raises during one of the worst recessions in history? How did Netjets get the leading pay/benefits package in the fractional industry by a huge margin? You need collective bargaining to protect your interests and to ensure you are not played with by management. It's called bargaining leverage... I guess your former Eastern scab pilots won again.

Herculean mistake. Don't complain now that you've made your bed - you need to sleep in it.

Or....its the first step towards the next attempt. Do the 633 guys who tried get no credit? I really think there were at least 368 pilots who did not vote simply based on Dave Barger's past ideas and loyalty to the original Jetblue. I think a year will probably change a lot of minds. We do not need to sleep in it because that implies surrender.

 

[HalinTexas]

" We Are The Dumbest Pilot Group In The Country!!!! "

No Sir. You have to earn that Title.

Failure to elect a Union is but a step in your Journey.

Next, you must certify a (joke) "In-House" Union.

After several years of seeing through that idiocy, then you must elect The Teamsters.

But, you will not be there yet, Grasshopper.

No. Next, you must de-certify Teamsters and vote in ALPA. ( This is very difficult, and deserves mention to those who have done so. )

Sorry, you are not quite done.

After many years of B.S. politics pulled by little Boys in your group who like to sark each others Peenies while lying to your face....

Then, you will need to have your Airline fail ( after the 1000th LOA where your "Union" gave them everything, for NOTHING )...And, in The End you will need to suffer one or two indescribable ignominies for no reason.

All of the above must happen, before you can OFFICIALLY claim:

" We Are The Dumbest Pilot Group In The Country!!!!"

Good Luck in your quest to recapture the Title.

Lesser Men have gone before you and have been triumphant.

" It takes a small man to fail spectacularly." - YKMKR

Mark, you forgot the: "Let's recall our MEC Chair Every Year" action that results in nothing better.

Unionizing won't solve all your problems. In fact, it will create more. However, if you do, you need to hold your representation accountable.

 

[jbucpt]

Pot. Kettle. Black.

Show me where there was bargaining *at all* at JetBlue for the last almost 10 years. Result: less than industry average in almost every area even after everyone else's concessions.

*crickets*

Ill show the same "bargaining leverage" that we have, then the "bargaining leverage" alpa has had i.e giving almost everything back the last 8 years.

the reality is this, when push comes to shove, a CBA or PEA isnt worth the paper its written on. the last 8 years have proven that.

 

[FBN0223]

My personal action plan.

1. I will never clean another cabin.

Cleaning cabins? Please tell me that cleaning the cabin is not an expected flight crew duty. That would go waaaaay beyond just drinking the kool-aid if Jetblue had pilots and FAs actually walking up and down aisles with garbage bags and vacuum cleaners.

 

[clickclickboom]

Any JB pilot that actually cleans is a fool.. If your inflight is on the ball they will ask you to cover the door while they clean.. By the time the last passenger walks off the plane you barely have time to finish your cockpit duties and walk back with a bag in your hand smiling and asking if anyone needs you to run and get them food before they are finished.

If you are the type that dons blue gloves and dives over seats in view of passengers you need a kick in the nuts.

 

[FDJ2]

delta/nwa seniorty determined by ONE MAN- the
arbitrator...alot of bargaining leverage there.

It was a three man panel, not one, the DAL/NWA pilots will receive between 20-30% pay raises over the course of the contract, with former furloughed NWA pilots receiving longevity credit for their time on furlough and each pilot on the DAL/NWA system seniority list will receive on average 3700 shares (not options) of DAL stock. Considering the fact that we are in the middle of one of the worst recessions in modern history, I think it took some leverage to get that.