JB MEC files for mediation

[Soul Brotha']

July 17, 2017
Fellow Pilots,


Today your MEC filed for mediation with the National Mediation Board. Management's recent unsatisfactory pay proposal coupled with the slowing pace at the table drove our decision. Our proposals on pay and benefits are reasonable and reflect the market rate. JetBlue management doesn't recognize the reality of professional pilot costs associated with running an airline or what is happening in the industry with respect to pilot compensation.

This is a business decision. We are in the business of flying aircraft from point a to point b—safely, every time. We fly the same equipment under the same conditions as pilots at United, Delta, American, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines. JetBlue management pays a market rate for each element of their business plan—aircraft, fuel, parts, and real estate. They need to pay market rate for their pilots.

As the biggest stakeholders in the airline, we have been patient. We fly the planes and make our airline one of the most profitable in the world. We have earned our fair share of that success. This requires a contract that reflects the hard work and sacrifice that you have been giving to this airline for the past 17 years.

We are on a path toward a labor dispute, and while we were hopeful that management would approach negotiations with a commitment to resolve an agreement expeditiously and fairly, it is clear that we now need the assistance of the government to secure this objective.

While management often speaks of JetBlue's values and special culture, the reality is our circumstances are no different than United, Delta, American, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines. These pilots had to fight for everything they earned and needed the help of mediators, evidently so will we. 'Culture' is not a substitute for a market-rate contract.

We cannot close this deal alone, it is going to take the collective effort of every single member to show management that we are unified behind the goal of a contract that reflects what we have rightfully earned.
join us at our#CONTRACTABOVEALL Rally tomorrow, July 18th. Otherwise, you can be sure there will be more activities in the future to come and show your support. Until then, wear your ALPA lanyard, read your updates, and fly SOP.


Respectfully yours,


Captain Patrick Walsh
Chairman
JetBlue Master Executive Council
Captain Dario Miranda
Vice Chairman
JetBlue Master Executive Council
Captain Wes Clapper
Secretary-Treasurer
JetBlue Master Executive Council
Stay Informed · Build Unity · Fly SOP · Wear Your Lanyard



Don't know if any of my BlueJuice factory brethren are attending tomorrow's rally but hope you can and stay informed.

 

[Cptnchia]

 

[Skåning]

JetBlue management pays a market rate for each element of their business plan—aircraft, fuel, parts, and real estate. They need to pay market rate for their pilots.

This is very poignant and something that our (Alaska) management needs to wake the eff up about. We've already burned through mediation and are just starting arbitration this week. Interesting times these!

 

[BobDDuck]

This is very poignant and something that our (Alaska) management needs to wake the eff up about. We've already burned through mediation and are just starting arbitration this week. Interesting times these!

Keep in mind your mediation is very different than Section 6 RLA mediation. Per the terms of the transition agreement there was a set timeline and end game (arbitration) so your management doesn't lose much pushing it to the end if they feel they are probably going to have to pay out anyway. In mediation under Section 6 there is no defined timeline and mediation can continue indefinitely. Hopefully Jetblue ALPA has positioned themselves to move the process along but unfortunately with the current administration there isn't a whole lot of leverage that can be applied.

 

[Bandit_Driver]

@BobDDuck oh there's legal leverage and ALPA will use ever legal means to achieve the contract.

 

[BobDDuck]

@BobDDuck oh there's legal leverage and ALPA will use ever legal means to achieve the contract.

Sadly, with the Trump administration there is less leverage at the nmb level than probably any other time in the last 25 years.

It's going to take mostly (legal) internal pressure and public perception to get you guys over the hump.

 

[Kingairer]

What ever happened to Spirits contract fight? @Cruise

 

[Baronman]

What ever happened to Spirits contract fight? @Cruise

Sounds like the injunction from a few months ago considerably hurt an already damaged negotiation.

 

[Bandit_Driver]

@Kingairer their negotiations are crawling. The TRO hurt their negotiations. People need to remember what they post on the web will be used against the group by the company.

@BobDDuck you are correct about trump. Going to be fun ride.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cruise]

What ever happened to Spirits contract fight? @Cruise

Ongoing process...albeit slowly. Company requested and the mediator added additional negotiation days through August. The cynic in me says that was for little more than show. We don't need extra days if they want to get us the deal we deserve. It's quite simple really. Management has zero desire to offer anything close to reasonable/ ratifiable. They're gonna dangle the TRO in our face and string us along to get through the summer months. Then, at some point, announce some merger or similar process to start over from square-one.

Sounds like the injunction from a few months ago considerably hurt an already damaged negotiation.

The major thing it damaged is any sympathy for our operation. I don't know of anyone that isn't helping out where they can and the company thinks the way to go is to sue the pilot group instead of negotiating in good faith or getting us the industry standard deal we deserve. The pilots keep the Spirit operation running, plain and simple. Without us going the extra mile all the time, the operation would crumble.

 

[Bandit_Driver]

@Cruise You're right and it will be interesting to see who gets a contract first. Will it be B6 or NK?

Both companies could simple end the dispute by signing a the fair contract ALPA has offered.

not sure who spirit could merge with besides F9 and I don't see indigo doing that.

 

[OneNineHundy]

Best of luck boys and girls!

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

 

[Soul Brotha']

I'm ready!

 

[Cruise]

@Cruise You're right and it will be interesting to see who gets a contract first. Will it be B6 or NK?

Both companies could simple end the dispute by signing a the fair contract ALPA has offered.

not sure who spirit could merge with besides F9 and I don't see indigo doing that.

I've got plenty of friends over at B6...wish you well. It's fairly clear neither of our managements have any desire to get an industry standard deal done. Instead they'll just cash their executive bonuses until the last minute and cave (or strike). Either way, it's obvious both our management teams think we're nothing but a line-item expense and bring zero value to the respective operation.

 

[mikecweb]

I've got plenty of friends over at B6...wish you well. It's fairly clear neither of our managements have any desire to get an industry standard deal done. Instead they'll just cash their executive bonuses until the last minute and cave (or strike). Either way, it's obvious both our management teams think we're nothing but a line-item expense and bring zero value to the respective operation.

Merger rumot?

 

[Cruise]

Merger rumot?

Plenty...none credible at this point, however. Most plausible remains Frontier. But that'll never happen prior to Indigo cashing out following their IPO. So if the company tries to string us along indefinitely before they decide to get a deal done I smell a staffing problem (entirely of their own creation). Why would anyone want to come here when they can hold out and get a call from a legacy. 2nd yr pay would far exceed anything the current Spirit clowns can offer.

Anyone but Allegiant, please!!!

 

[mikecweb]

Plenty...none credible at this point, however.

Anyone but Allegiant, please!!!

Sounds like you and blue have the same management philosophy...

 

[Cruise]

Sounds like you and blue have the same management philosophy...

Yeah, somewhat. Significant difference being B6 management gave their pilots a raise outside of section 6 negotiations because it was the right thing to do; whereas NKS management deemed it appropriate to sue the pilot group for their deficiencies.

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Yeah, somewhat. Significant difference being B6 management gave their pilots a raise outside of section 6 negotiations because it was the right thing to do; whereas NKS management deemed it appropriate to sue the pilot group for their deficiencies.

To be fair, some of those guys had it coming. Amazing what people on APC post despite numerous warnings from other pilots that they shouldn't be writing that stuff. Not the first time internet posts have been used by airline management in court/injunction/discipline, and it certainly won't be the last.

 

[CRJDriver]

Significant difference being B6 management gave their pilots a raise outside of section 6 negotiations because it was the right thing to do;

Wasn't really a raise, since they cut our proft sharing back. They gave all the work groups a raise.

Today, the NMB appointed Jim Mackenzie as our mediator. No additional negotiating dates have been scheduled, yet.