Organizing
11 October 2022

Now that we filed for an election, what happens next?

The National Mediation Board (NMB), the federal agency that handles representation elections in the airline industry, has ordered JetBlue management to send the list of “potential eligible voters” to the NMB by 10:00 AM, October 18, 2022. Once the NMB receives the list of potentially eligible voters from JetBlue, the federal agency will compare the list with the election authorization cards submitted to determine if at least 50 percent of GO Crewmembers have requested the right to vote in a union representation election.

Who is eligible to vote?

All GO Crewmembers hired on or before September 17, 2022.

How will the vote be conducted?

The vote will be conducted by mail ballot. It is important that we have our most current address updated with JetBlue, as JetBlue will give the NMB the address it currently has on file when it is time for the NMB to mail us our ballot.

It is also important to know that we will vote by secret ballot and that our vote is confidential. JetBlue management is prohibited under federal law from ever knowing how we voted, or if we voted.

How long will it take the NMB to schedule our vote?

Once the NMB determines that at least 50 percent of all GO Crewmembers requested a union representation election be held (signed a card), the federal agency will schedule a voting period. If JetBlue management submits an accurate list of potentially eligible voters to the NMB, which airline management is required to do under federal law, then it is possible that the vote will be scheduled within the next few months.

However, we expect JetBlue management and their high-priced lawyers to delay the process as much as they can, and they’ve already started. JetBlue requested a week extension to submit the list of potentially eligible voters to the NMB by October 18, 2022. The list of eligible voters was originally due by Tuesday, October 11, 2022. The NMB granted their request.

Why would JetBlue want to delay the vote?

Like management at all corporations, JetBlue management wants to retain total control over all decisions. The best way for them to do that is to do everything possible to influence and coerce their employees not to unionize. When workers unionize, they have a seat at the table and the right to negotiate and vote on their terms of employment.

When workers are not unionized, they don’t have those rights (collective bargaining rights).

By delaying the process, JetBlue management and their attorneys will have more time to try and convince Crewmembers that we don’t need to unionize and negotiate a legally binding contract. It’s important that we understand that everything JetBlue management does from this point forward is to influence GO Crewmembers to remain non-union, with no legal rights and no contract.

What can JetBlue management do to delay the NMB process?

We expect that JetBlue management will make every attempt to inflate the list of potential eligible voters by placing individuals on the list who are ineligible. For example, we expect JetBlue to place AO Crewmembers on the list.

This will force us to identify the ineligible workers and to object to their inclusion on the list of potential eligible voters. Under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), workers must organize according to “class and craft” (job classification). According to the law, GO and AO are separate classifications of work and therefore must unionize separately.

 We hope JetBlue management doesn’t engage in any dirty tricks to delay our right to vote. If they try, we are prepared for anything and we will keep the Department of Labor and elected officials abreast of the situation.

What are our rights during this process?

>>  We have a federal right under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), to form and join a union without interference from JetBlue management.

>>  We have the right to talk to our co-workers about the Union just like we talk about any other subject at work. We have the right to hand out flyers and other information during non-work times in non-work areas.

>>  We have the right to wear a Union Pin.

It’s against federal law for management to stop us from exercising these rights, or retaliate against us for exercising our federal right to form a Union. The Railway Labor Act—the federal law that gives us these rights— prohibits management from influencing or interfering with our right to join a union. Ask yourself, is JetBlue management, or any other person, trying to influence us to not unionize?

The law states, “No carrier, its officers, or agents shall deny or in any way question the right of its employees to join, organize, or assist in organizing the labor organization of their choice, and it shall be unlawful for any carrier to interfere in any way with the organization of its employees.”

“All employees are free to express their desire to be represented by a labor organization or to be unrepresented.

The Carrier is not permitted to influence, interfere or coerce employees in any manner in an effort to induce them to participate or refrain from participating in an election should there be one.

Organizing
5 October 2022

Union Vote Update: Timeline and Our Rights 

As you know, the IAM filed an application with the National Mediation Board (NMB), a federal agency, to conduct a union representation vote on Friday, September 23, 2022.

On September 26, 2022, the NMB ordered JetBlue management to forward to the NMB the list of “potential eligible voters” by Monday, October 11, 2022.

Yesterday, JetBlue’s high-priced attorneys requested a one-week extension, until Monday, October 18, 2022, to submit the list (we will let you know if the extension is granted).

Once the NMB receives the list of potentially eligible voters from JetBlue management, the federal agency will then determine if at least 50 percent of GO Crewmembers signed an election authorization card (a-card), requesting a union election be scheduled.

The NMB controls the timeline of this process, and we will keep you updated on any developments every step of the way.

It is very important that all GO Crewmembers understand that our right to join, and express support to form a union of JetBlue GO Crewmembers, is protected under federal law.

The NMB’s Notice to Employees states: “No carrier, its officers, or agents shall deny or in any way question the right of its employees to join, organize, or assist in organizing the labor organization of their choice, and it shall be unlawful for any carrier to interfere in any way with the organization of its employees […] The Carrier is not permitted to influence, interfere or coerce employees in any manner in an effort to induce them to participate or refrain from participating in an election should there be one.”

If you believe that JetBlue is attempting to influence, interfere or coerce you against exercising your right to join a union, please notify an IAM representative. CLICK HERE to find out more about your rights, and how you can file an ANONYMOUS “carrier interference” charge. 

IAM Files for Union Representation Election for Approximately 3,000 JetBlue Ground Workers

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2022 — The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), North America’s largest airline union, today announced that it will file an application with the National Mediation Board (NMB), the federal agency that conducts union representation elections in the airline and railroad sectors. The IAM has sufficient interest among JetBlue Fleet Service workers to conduct a union representation election.

“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.”

JetBlue Ground Operations workers rebooted their efforts to gain union representation in 2021 after working through the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the worst financial downturn in the airline industry’s history.

“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. “When our country needed essential goods and services 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.”

“I also fully expect for JetBlue management to adhere to the law and allow JetBlue workers to vote without influence, coercion and interference from JetBlue management. If not, we will leave no stone unturned to hold them accountable,” continued Johnsen.

JetBlue workers have cited below-standard industry pay rates and benefits, poor and unsafe working conditions, unjustified discipline and terminations, among many other issues as reasons to gain IAM representation and a seat at the table.

“JetBlue workers are a smart, strong and determined group of workers and we can’t wait to welcome them into the IAM family,” said IAM District 141 President Mike Klemm. “The IAM will support JetBlue workers in getting to and winning this election and negotiating a union contract that reflects their true value to JetBlue Airways.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in

the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.

Get Printable Copy of Press Release >>

Related: We Filed: What’s Next? >>