An Immediate Benefit to Unionizing: Negotiating a Legally Binding Contract 

Organizing
9 August 2022

One of the many benefits of unionizing is that GO Crewmembers will gain the right to negotiate a legally binding contract. Under the law, wages, benefits, and working conditions are all “mandatory subjects of bargaining” and JetBlue management MUST bargain in “good faith” with us. That means JetBlue management must negotiate in a way that will bring about an agreement. That’s the law.

That’s important because it gives GO Crewmembers the right and opportunity to lock in what we like about our current job, negotiate improvements to the things that need to be fixed, AND negotiate protections during the merger with Spirit.

JetBlue executives are trying to talk Crewmembers out of negotiating a legally-binding union contract. Yet, none of them would dream of working without a contract in a million years.

For example, currently in FLL, approximately half of the part-time bid lines are now relief lines in which GO Crewmembers have to bid every two weeks. That’s right EVERY TWO WEEKS! With a contract, we can fix that. What about the locations where JetBlue management just involuntarily cut full-time hours from 40 to 32? With a contract, we can fix that too.

What about pay? Once we unionize, we have the right to negotiate higher wages. Without a contract, we have no guarantees of any wage increases. The announced wage increases in 2023 are not guaranteed. We already experienced not receiving scheduled wage increases in 2021, due to the pandemic (NOTE: all UNION airlines received their pay increases in 2021 because of their contracts). And, the 2023 pay scale, even with the raise, is the lowest among the major US airlines.

By unionizing, we will take control over our destiny. We will have a strong voice to protect OUR interests.

Remember, if we don’t have a seat at the table, we are likely on the menu.

United Negotiations Update: Job Security Talks Continue

United Negotiations Update: Job Security Talks Continue  Contract negotiations continued this week in Chicago, IL. IAM and United negotiators focused exclusively on IAM members' top priority, which is job security. We are cautiously optimistic we can reach...

Ken Thiede Recognized for 65 Years of Machinists Union Action

Ken Thiede Recognized for 65 Years of Machinists Union ActionRetirees Club10 June 2022Chicago's Local 1487 honored Ken Thiede for his 65 years of service to the Machinists Union.Longtime Labor leader Ken Thiede was honored this week for 65 years of service to the...

Spirit Delays Shareholder Decision on JetBlue, Frontier Merger

Spirit Delays Shareholder Decision on JetBlue, Frontier MergerJustice at JetBlue9 June 2022Both Frontier and JetBlue want to merge with Spirit Airlines. The Spirit Board wants a deal with Frontier, but Shareholders are looking hard at the money JetBlue is...

I Just Became a Union Steward – Now What?

I Just Became a Union Steward - Now What?Education 8 June 2022Union Stewards are the backbone of the labor movement. Stewards enforce collective bargaining agreements and defend the safety and rights of union members. But, the job isn't easy.As a new steward, you...

Related News

Dennis Spencer Named New Safety Director for American, Spirit

Dennis Spencer Named New Safety Director for American, Spirit

Dennis Spencer Named Safety Director for American, Spirit MembersSafety18 October 2022Dennis Spencer, Safety Chairman from Local Lodge 1776, has been appointed to Safety Director for District 141, overseeing safety programs for Union Members at American Airlines and...

Share This