JetBlue Crewmembers Deserve More from Northeast Alliance
Justice at JetBlue
28 February 2022
Two-thirds of JetBlue’s operation is now tied up with American’s in the so-called “Northeast Alliance.” American and JetBlue now share revenue and coordinate schedules in New York and Boston, by far JetBlue’s largest bases of operations.
However, the power in the Northeast Alliance lies with American Airlines.
Less than two months before entering the Northeast Alliance, JetBlue warned its
Board of Directors that the Northeast Alliance created a risk of JetBlue being co-opted by American manipulation and noted that potential ways to alleviate this risk might help preserve only some level of JetBlue’s independence.
Essentially, American and JetBlue have merged in New York and Boston by sharing revenue and coordinating schedules, but GO Crewmembers aren’t compensated or protected like American ground operations employees.
American ground ops workers, starting this month, will lead the industry in pay rates, $33.60 per hour at top of scale. In two years American ground ops workers will earn approximately $35 per hour base pay. This doesn’t include shift differential and premiums. AA ground ops workers also have 6 weeks vacation and 10 holidays paid at double-time and a half. They also have profit sharing and the best pension and 401k program in the industry. ALL BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE WITH AA BECAUSE OF THEIR UNION.
JetBlue GO Crewmembers deserve to share in the success they create. The only way to do that is by unionizing and gaining the right to negotiate a legally binding contract.
Related News
United Airlines to Require Employee Vaccinations (Survey)
[supsystic-social-sharing id='3']Reversing his earlier promise not to be the first to issue vaccine mandates, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby announced that all US-based employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by this fall. This move by United was poorly...
The American Labor Movement Loses an Icon
[supsystic-social-sharing id='3']Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO, has died at the age of 72. His cause of death has yet to be announced. This post has been updated to include a reaction from IAMAW International President, Robert Martinez. Reaction from labor...
IAM Reopens Winpisinger Education and Technology Center to In-Person Classes
[supsystic-social-sharing id='3']With COVID-19 protocols in place, the IAM reopened its classrooms this week at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, MD, to participants resuming in-person programs for the first time since March...