Photo Credit: Brian Vega, IAMAW District 141 Social and Visual Media Coordinator.

AFL-CIO: Thousands of JetBlue Ground Workers Organizing With Machinists


AFL-CIO
28 September 2022

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors, and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Exciting news broke this morning that the Machinists (IAM) have filed for a union election on behalf of approximately 3,000 ground operations workers and baggage handlers at JetBlue. These workers say below-standard industry pay rates and benefits, poor and unsafe working conditions, unjustified discipline and terminations, among many other issues, are their reasons for wanting IAM representation and a seat at the table.

“I congratulate all JetBlue Ground Operations workers for uniting in solidarity and demanding that a union representation election be conducted,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “It’s been a long road for these brave workers to get to this point, and the IAM stands shoulder to shoulder with them. We will mobilize our union’s significant resources to ensure that these brave and resilient JetBlue workers have a fair and free election.”

It’s high time that JetBlue workers gain the dignity and respect of a union contract and a strong voice on the job,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen (not pictured). “When our country needed essential goods and services [sent] to where they were needed most during the pandemic, JetBlue workers answered the bell and risked their lives and health to make that happen. What did they get from management? They got their hours and pay cut because they didn’t have a seat at the table. That will end very soon.”

 

 

The JetBlue / Spirit Merger and the Threat to Job Security

The JetBlue-Spirit Merger and the Risk to Job SecurityOrganizing9 August 2022The JetBlue and Spirit merger presents a significant risk to the job security of those workers who do not have contractual employment protections. Why?"Asset divestitures can smooth the way...

Message from JetBlue Organizers: Personal Time Has Value

Remember who you're really working for: Managers think that our jobs should be the most important things in our lives and that everything else should come second. They think that we should put aside things like family, building memories, and just doing nothing at all...

Related News

Historic Union Alliance at Delta

Historic Union Alliance at Delta

Delta is now facing three of the largest unions in North American at the same time. Get ready for pizza parties. Historic Union Alliance Forms at DeltaGOIAM.org28 November 2022North America's three largest airline unions have formed a historic alliance to unify tens...

IAM Mourns Loss of Retired Winpisinger Center Director Chris Wagoner

IAM Mourns Loss of Retired Winpisinger Center Director Chris Wagoner

Winpisinger Center Director and Educator, Chris Wagoner. IAM Mourns Loss of Retired Winpisinger Center Director Chris WagonerMachinists District 14115 November 2022The IAM is mourning the passing of Chris Wagoner, who recently retired as Director of the IAM’s William...

Union vs Non-Union Thanksgiving Pay

Union vs Non-Union Thanksgiving Pay

Working on Thanksgiving? How JetBlue GO Crewmembers Holiday Pay Compares to Other Unionized GO Workers Justice at JetBlue22 November 2022The airline industry, as we know, is a 24/7 operation, and working on a holiday is part of the job. However, how we are COMPENSATED...

AFL-CIO: Thousands of JetBlue Ground Workers Organizing With Machinists

AFL-CIO
28 September 2022


Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors, and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

 

Exciting news broke this morning that the Machinists (IAM) have filed for a union election on behalf of approximately 3,000 ground operations workers and baggage handlers at JetBlue. These workers say below-standard industry pay rates and benefits, poor and unsafe working conditions, unjustified discipline and terminations, among many other issues, are their reasons for wanting IAM representation and a seat at the table.

 

“I congratulate all JetBlue Ground Operations workers for uniting in solidarity and demanding that a union representation election be conducted,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “It’s been a long road for these brave workers to get to this point, and the IAM stands shoulder to shoulder with them. We will mobilize our union’s significant resources to ensure that these brave and resilient JetBlue workers have a fair and free election.”

 

It’s high time that JetBlue workers gain the dignity and respect of a union contract and a strong voice on the job,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen (not pictured). “When our country needed essential goods and services [sent] to where they were needed most during the pandemic, JetBlue workers answered the bell and risked their lives and health to make that happen. What did they get from management? They got their hours and pay cut because they didn’t have a seat at the table. That will end very soon.”

8,000 Amazon Workers Vote to Unionize – JetBlue Ground Ops is Next

Message from JetBlue Ground Ops:8,000 Amazon Workers Vote to Unionize - We're Next! Justice at JetBlue7 April 2022 Over 8,000 Amazon workers voted to unionize last week. These brave Amazon workers cited sub-standard working conditions and the ability to have a VOICE...

Negotiations Crawl Along in Chicago

Negotiations Crawl Along in Chicago This Week  1 April 2022 This week, the IAM District 141 Negotiations Committee and United negotiators met in Chicago to continue bargaining for new contracts covering over 25,000 United Airlines ground workers. We reported last...

141 Report: Women’s Appreciation at Newark Local 914

141 Report: 141 Report: Women's Appreciation at Newark Local 914YouTube1 April 20221 April 2022 | In this week's 141 Report, our viewers and listeners meet Sister Djenane Sauls, who talks about the recent Women's Appreciation event at Newark Local 914. Our sister also...

JetBlue’s Paid Time Off Scheme

JetBlue's Paid Time Off SchemeJustice at JetBlue29 March 2022Many Americans would be surprised to learn that, in many countries, it's normal to work only 11 months of each year. Most workers in nations like Brazil, Finland, and Germany, among many others, expect to...

Share This