Message from JetBlue Ground Ops:
JetBlue Bids $3.6 Billion for Spirit; Union Representation Never More Critical
Justice at JetBlue
6 April 2022
JetBlue management yesterday announced it offered $3.6 billion to purchase Spirit Airlines. Airline mergers create many uncertainties, especially when workers do not have a contract with legally enforceable language to protect their rights.
JetBlue management will likely make many promises about what will happen if this merger with Spirit occurs. Many of these promises will center around how the merger of JetBlue and Spirit will create more competition and how workers will benefit. As history tells us, these promises, made by every airline executive after a merger, often turn out to be false.
JetBlue management will likely make many promises regarding what will happen if this merger with Spirit occurs. Many of these promises will center around how the merger of JetBlue and Spirit will create more competition and how workers will benefit. As history tells us, these promises, made by every airline executive
What’s at risk for JetBlue Crewmembers? Short answer, everything. Our jobs, wages, benefits, and working conditions can be changed at any time for any reason now and also throughout the merger/acquisition process. And, during a merger/acquisition, management teams often change, and promises made are routinely broken.
The only real way to make sure our interests are protected is by unionizing and gaining representation through this process. Once we gain IAM representation, we would enter into legally recognized negotiations to protect what we currently have and then negotiate for more.
In every IAM contract, there is strong language to protect the rights of IAM members. Such language mandates that IAM members’ contracts are recognized and respected during a merger. Wages, benefits, job protections, seniority, and working conditions are completely protected. And, when we are unionized, we would then enter into negotiations to combine workgroups and seek further gains and protections. This has occurred in every merger in which the IAM was the union.
Remember that a-cards are only valid for one year, so if you haven’t signed within the last year, renew today. We are making strong progress toward filing for a union election, so don’t delay, sign today!
Related News
Union Members (And Only Union Members) Have Merger Protections
Union Members (And Only Union Members) Have Legally-Binding Merger ProtectionsJustice at JetBlue21 April 2022The benefits of a Union Contract: legal protections in the event of a merger.JetBlue’s bid to acquire and merge with Spirit Airlines comes with many questions...
2022 Officer Nomination Results
2022 Officer Nominations In accordance with District 141 ByLaws and all other governing rules, District 141 held nomination votes at each constituent Local Lodge for eligible District officers. The list below contains the results of that nomination process. Listed are...
The End of Airline Mask Mandates
The End of Airline Mask Mandates COVID-1919 April 2022 Mask mandates have been an inescapable part of air travel for more than two years. A recent study of Machinist Union members in commercial aviation suggests that most airline workers are ready for them to end. A...