Pilots against JBPA (jetblue union)

[82spukram]

Blue Bayou,

Whats your story?
I respect very much so your right and choice not to vote a union in. So why do you not respect others and quickly blame JBPA when at least 35% of us believe that the current processes is not working, and for what is it worth it is not JBPA that is your problem it is your fellow pilot who have made this happen. I pick up a lot of bitterness towards a union which I would imagine you were done in by one at the last company or do you believe that a union is just over all bad for JetBlue long term viability? Or do you think that the company will give us 13 to 14% and establish a B fund for retirement benefits? Better Health benefits? Also what about a merger (2 million will go fast with an unprecedented dealing with 2000 contracts)? Just wondering and in no way am trying to bate you. I just see you say a lot about JBPA and I would like to know how these things are going to be fixed when they just had their great chance to do in April and May while they were putting together the PCRB action plan. Any rate I am just interested. (oh yeah if you do not want to respond here free to PM or you can find me on bluepilots under the same screen name)

An E190 FO

 

[StarChecker]

So thanks, JBPA for slowing or even stopping what was put forward to possibly move things in the right direction for pilots. Thank you very much...

Last time you posted something like this...I couldn't believe you could be so foolish. But now that you've done it again...I'm forced to believe that you're just not that smart.

Are you freakin' kidding me? You still believe that improvements were right around the corner?....if only that pesky JBPA didn't come along....we'd be getting email after email about pay raises...trip/night rigs....LOL coverage....better health care....no more contract pilots flying our planes...

Really scary....

Please open your eyes...they had quite a few years to make things right. Years when we were very profitable. And now...all of a sudden....on the brink of a union election...Dave "gets it"....f-ing spare me.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Will you DORKS please take this to another thread?

Seriously, this thread is about JB and the NMB -- not a discussion about the Founding Fathers, God, the evolution of the Union, the Magna Carta, or whether Sleestacks on the TV show "The Land of the Lost" harmed an entire generation of children.

START ANOTHER F-IN THREAD YOU JAGNUTS.
__________________
...I think military guys can't think outside of the box, and they are afraid of weather. -- the SWA/FO

I couldn't have said it better myself ...

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Take this for what its worth but 190 class of 16 mid February. Friend works in the training department. So I doubt they are 300 over staffed.

Me either on the overmanning. I got 84 hr line in November, 93 in December.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

So thanks, JBPA for slowing or even stopping what was put forward to possibly move things in the right direction for pilots. Thank you very much...

You mean thanks JBPA (and the 700-1000 pilots standing by the JBPA).

Once again -- Colonel Beard, it's your brethren that have initiated this effort. Not some fringe group that doesn't care about JetBlue. Your fellow pilots. That's the JBPA.

 

[bluesideup340]

The Leverage we have with the threat of a Union at JB is much better than actually having a Union.
Imagine this, JBPA gets 49% of the votes. That would be a hell of a message to JB Executive Crew to respond with improvements to our pay and benefits.
Just think about that when you get your ballot.

 

[Lebowski]

The Leverage we have with the threat of a Union at JB is much better than actually having a Union.
Imagine this, JBPA gets 49% of the votes. That would be a hell of a message to JB Executive Crew to respond with improvements to our pay and benefits.
Just think about that when you get your ballot.

Is the "leverage" you're talking about going to prevent penstroke policy changes from occuring if JBPA is not voted in? How is that going to work?

I've been through a number of union drives and this argument always comes up by anti-union pilots. I don't really get it. Maybe someone can explain exactly how the "leverage" of a threat is better than a formalized contract between the company and its career employees.

 

[Lebowski]

The Leverage we have with the threat of a Union at JB is much better than actually having a Union.
Imagine this, JBPA gets 49% of the votes. That would be a hell of a message to JB Executive Crew to respond with improvements to our pay and benefits.
Just think about that when you get your ballot.

I almost forgot...how many times do you want to send a "hell of a message" to management? I think the PCRB report was a loud message that was essentially ignored. Why? There's no real motivation to address a non-organized group.

By the way, Blueside...no personal beef with you...I've just seen this argument over and over again. The only thing that happens after a failed union drive, regardless of how close it comes to success, is that management breathes a collective sigh of relief when it's over because they won. Then they can back to not addressing the concerns of their professional pilots.

 

[bluesideup340]

Hi Lebowski
First of all you do have a contract with the company. Sure it might not address all your personal needs and preferences. But to believe a CBA would make all the ills of our industry, and for that matter JB, disappear is an unrealistic expectation, which will be in particular true when JBPA signs the first CBA. I am sure you know the first CBA will not be much better than what we currently have. Mainly because Unions due can not and will not be collect until we have a CBA.
So JBPA will have to balance there limited resources (i.e. Money, time) very carefully which will affect there bargaining position as a function of (Strength of bargaining position = Money / Time)

On the other side of the table is the company. Looking at JetBlue’s past history the company made improvement to our contract on an annual bases. Not saying that all the decision and improvements were always spot on, but no one can argue with our success, job security, and financial strength as an Airline.

Once a union is in place the company will have to give up some of the flexibility to manage JetBlue’s business and commit to long-term somewhat rigid CBA language that will affect the organization for the next 5 years. Making prediction on industry changes, in particular in our current economic situation, is very difficult and JB’s negotiator will be very careful to enter into long-term commitments. Hence, the negotiator has little motivation to bring negotiations to a quick end. Because, by holding out as long as possible, weakens the bargaining position of the Union. Of course, that isn’t news to anyone that is why CBA negotiations take years and even longer for the first CBAs. Unless the Union, in the case of a first contract, accepts very basic terms that do not change the status quo by much.

Therefore the threat of a Union provides more leverage than a Union. A 49% vote would show we are capable to have a Union if our concerns regarding merger or health care aren’t address. In all fairness, the last contract was not great and I wasn’t impressed with it. But given the Fuel Price and the economic situation I know it was the best possible and most sensible solution. Without a doubt, JB is not perfect but neither is a Union.

Now let me be clear here, I am not against Unions per se. I do believe that company’s that have Unions, for the most part, deserved a Union because they failed to find the right balance between the needs of the Business and the requirements of their employees. But in the case of JB, improvements and progress are made and we do have an open unfiltered line of communication so why change it. JB and its Pilots neither needs nor deserves a Union yet.

Last but not least, JBPA claim to address the professional needs of all Pilots at JetBlue is unrealistic, but a great campaign gimmick. No CBA or JB contract will ever address all of our 2000 individual needs and requirements. I am just not willing to exchange the devil I know with the unknown.

 

[StarChecker]

But in the case of JB, improvements and progress are made and we do have an open unfiltered line of communication so why change it.

Unfiltered? Are you mad?

Did you miss the spin at the PCRB meetings? That was unfiltered? That rhetoric was filtered more than most campaign speeches. I could smell it over the phone.

Did you negotiate/vote on any of the latest PCRB "improvements"? because I didn't. And you know what....I never will because I don't have a CBA. You will just be taking whatever the company wants to give you until we have a CBA. They had a 64 page document plainly showing our shortcomings...and they responded in 8 pages. What could we do about it.....NOTHING.

So what do I do now if I think it sucks that I have to pay $1400/year for my prescriptions that used to cost me $300/year at my crappy regional? Same prescriptions....4.5 TIMES MORE OUT OF POCKET. WHAT DO I DO? Send a letter to the CP? Benefits? John Ross? Dave?

USELESS

I'd rather have the ability to vote on changes to my pay/benefits. No...there is no guarantee that any of it will definitely improve with a CBA and anyone who thinks so is a nitwit. But what is the alternative? What we have now doesn't work...how many more PCRB abortions will it take for you to realize that.

 

[Caveman]

Once a union is in place the company will have to give up some of the flexibility to manage JetBlue’s business and commit to long-term somewhat rigid CBA language that will affect the organization for the next 5 years. Making prediction on industry changes, in particular in our current economic situation, is very difficult and JB’s negotiator will be very careful to enter into long-term commitments. Hence, the negotiator has little motivation to bring negotiations to a quick end. Because, by holding out as long as possible, weakens the bargaining position of the Union. Of course, that isn’t news to anyone that is why CBA negotiations take years and even longer for the first CBAs. Unless the Union, in the case of a first contract, accepts very basic terms that do not change the status quo by much.

They enter into long term contracts with Airbus and the Port Authority. Does that hinder their abilitity to be flexible too? Why should a 3-5 year contract with the pilots be any different? Nobody else JetBlue deals with operates without a written binding agreement. Why should employees be any different?

 

[Draginass]

When Jetblue gets sold, you'd better have a contract with a solid successorship clause.

 

[BLUE BAYOU]

You mean thanks JBPA (and the 700-1000 pilots standing by the JBPA).

Once again -- Colonel Beard, it's your brethren that have initiated this effort. Not some fringe group that doesn't care about JetBlue. Your fellow pilots. That's the JBPA.

First of all, COL Beard flew B-52s so you have the wrong guy! Additionally, 35% of the pilots showed interest in JBPA, they did not vote for it, YET. If the economy continues on its pace, I think you'll find that in the end-- JBLU pilots will not vote for JBPA, they'd rather keep their jobs and be hopeful for a more meaningful existence in the future, hopefully, as the economy and our company prospers...

 

[8vATE]

Bavarian Brainpower

I find it hard to believe that a grown man is typing this stuff.

Just another Bavarian retort to a pragmatic post here on Flight Info.

ALL Bow Down to Barvaria Chefs!

 

[8vATE]

Me either on the overmanning. I got 84 hr line in November, 93 in December.

We get it!

It's all about you.