The JetBlue-Spirit Merger and the Risk to Job Security
Organizing
9 August 2022
The 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 to antitrust approval.We have a path to close this deal,”
-CEO Robin Hayes
The JetBlue-Spirit merger will have to receive approval from the federal government to be finalized. With airfares soaring and countless operational problems, it is expected that the Biden Administration will be VERY apprehensive to approve any airline merger. This is especially true for the JetBlue-Spirit merger, as the Biden Administration has already sued JetBlue and American, alleging the airlines’ Northeast Alliance is a de facto merger that hurts competition in the New York and Boston markets. So what will JetBlue have to do to gain regulatory approval for its merger with Spirit?
Two words: Divest operations to address the issue of competition. So, for example, where JetBlue and Spirit both have significant operations—think FLL, MCO and other locations—to gain approval for the merger JetBlue will have to give up a portion of its flight schedule to other airline/s. That means JetBlue is bound to divest in many locations, which means a reduction of the current combined flights of Spirit and JetBlue. And that affects jobs.
And, if the merger is ultimately approved, a big if, it will not happen until the first half of 2024. A lot can happen in 15-18 months. There can be an economic slowdown, happening now as the GDP has decreased in the last two quarters, or a significant change in the leadership philosophy of the combined carrier.
JetBlue management’s objective, as stated in its latest second-quarter earnings report, is to get the merger with Spirit approved and to implement a severe cost containment strategy with its newly announced “Enterprise Planning Team.”
What does that mean for outsourcing and general job security? Future wage and benefit improvements? Work rule enhancements?
The only way that JetBlue GO Crewmembers will be able to have a say in their future is by having a seat at the table. Not by being on the menu.
JetBlue Lies Exposed in MCO
JetBlue's VP of Airport Experiences tried to convince Ground Ops Crewmembers to give the airline another year to fix things. JetBlue Lies Exposed in MCOOrganizing4 November 2022Vice President of Airports Experience, Dana Shapir, has been hitting the road since GO...
Airline Profits: Union Made
Record summer airline profits are proof that workers are assets that should be invested in, not liabilities that should be limited. Summer 2022 Airline Profits: Union MadeOrganizing31 October 2022Unions create a workplace where workers take their jobs seriously,...
A Halloween Story About Dues at JetBlue
Supervisors at JetBlue think Crewmembers should be scared of dues, but it's abusive supervisors who have the most to fear from a well-funded, unified workplace. A Halloween Story About Dues at JetBlueOrganizing31 October 2022Anti-Union managers at JetBlue seem to...
JetBlue Union Vote Update: No Back Dues
JetBlue Union Vote Update: No Back DuesOrganizing27 October 2022Dear GO Crewmembers: Sadly and unfortunately, it has come to our attention that JetBlue management and their agents are lying about the union dues issue once again. Let me be as clear as possible: There...
Related News
Secretary Buttigieg Addresses Air Rage at the 2023 North American Transportation Conference
In response to a question about the recent attacks on airline workers by disgruntled passengers, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg outlined the Department of Transportation's (DOT) efforts to combat air rage during the 2023 North American Transportation...
Illinois State Council of Machinists Holds Annual Conference
Illinois State Council of Machinists Holds Annual ConferenceIAM141.org March 25, 2023The Illinois State Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers recently held its annual conference in Springfield, Illinois, from March 21-23. The conference began with a reception...
United Airlines Contract Negotiations
United Contract Negotiations UpdateIAM and United management negotiators met this past Friday in Washington DC for 14 hours in an effort to reach agreement on seven IAM contracts covering almost 30,000 United Airlines workers. While United management has finally...