JetBlue is no longer the largest airline in the USA without a union. The ~2,600 pilots have chosen to be represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) in the most recent vote. Reports suggest that 71-73% voted in favor of the representation. Similar votes failed in 2009 and 2011. Nothing changes immediately, of course, so predicting trouble is probably just me thinking the title is funny more than any useful contribution to the discussion. Still, this will be an interesting situation to watch in the coming months as negotiating committees are formed on each side and talks begin.
And I get that typically such changes are net negative for the company. But I’m less worried about than than my experience as a passenger. And the unionization leaves a very, very, very broad opening for things to move one way or the other on that front. But it rarely is good for consumers.
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Seth: unions are GOOD. Unions try to realize a living wage for those they represent. The Koch brothers and their $100 billion dollar net worth (wonder how got all that money??)) may be against unions, but there is no reason that your blog should be used to trash them. Please don’t turn your excellent travel blog into into union bashing. Thanks!
funny.
Unions are bad. They were needed back in the days to bring standards in place but now they overreach and divide corporate culture. It comes as to say if the pay is not to your liking then go elsewhere.
Heavily unionized countries such as Spain France Italy. All in financial trouble.
Was there something in particular that made the vote change from the previous attempts?
Yeah – voter fraud 🙂