UNION: Pilots at Jet Blue overwhelmingly vote to form a union.

[pnwmom]

So ticket prices will rise -- and they should, if that's what it takes to pay their pilots and other employees a fair wage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/business/pilots-at-jetblue-vote-to-join-a-union.html?hp&_r=0

After twice rejecting bids to unionize since 2009, JetBlue Airways pilots overwhelmingly agreed to be represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, the union said on Tuesday.

Most of JetBlue’s 2,529 pilots participated in the vote, and 71 percent of them voted to join A.L.P.A., the largest pilots’ union in the United States. In a one-sentence statement, JetBlue said it would set up negotiating committees after the National Mediation Board authorizes A.L.P.A. as the representative body for its pilots.

The pilots are the first work group at JetBlue to join a union. It most likely means that JetBlue’s costs will continue to rise in coming years as the pilots’ union seeks better terms for its newest members. Shares of JetBlue fell 1.9 percent on Tuesday, to close at $8.59.

Captain Lee Moak, the union’s president, said that the addition of the JetBlue pilots would “make our union stronger by adding their unified voices to the association’s strong bargaining and advocacy efforts.”

SNIP

[itsrobert]

1. Uh oh, no more $99 seats from Long Beach, CA to Philadelphia

n/t

[BlueEye]

2. Congrats to the JetBlue pilots!

Management under the last CEO worked with the pilots, but this guy (Dave Barger) has shown himself to be two-faced in his dealings with them. The vote was in favor by an overwhelming margin, which speaks to their frustration. I believe ALPA will serve them well.


And to people who are saying that this is the death of JetBlue... You know what another heavily unionized airline is? Southwest Airlines. Hasn't stopped them from being the industry leader.

Amazing what treating your employees right can do.

[Capt. Obvious]

3. Zombie Reagan will fire them

[msanthrope]

4. UNION!!!! nt