On the surface, it appears that JetBlue pilots are angry that a potential partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue could end up costing pilot jobs. But that’s not the root of the problem, nor is it simply posturing for a new contract. The root of the problem is trust.
JetBlue Pilots Express Anger At Management: The United Partnership Is The Symptom, Not The Cause
Aviation insider JonNYC shared a fiery memo from the union representing JetBlue pilots to its pilots. You can read the full memo below, but I’ll highlight key portions below.
The note begins by noting 1.) deteriorating morale at JetBlue and 2.) blaming management for it:
Our environment is becoming more uncertain by the day. Morale is deteriorating across the operation, and confidence in our future at JetBlue is being steadily undermined. Not by chance — but by choice. And that choice is being made by JetBlue management.
It should be noted that JetBlue and its pilots have been negotiating for a contract and the two sides appear far apart. JetBlue pilots understandably want a wage hike commensurate with their peers at other carriers while JetBlue management has used JetBlue’s lack of profitability and overall poor financial performance over the last few years to push back.
The union asserts that entering into a commercial agreement with United might violate their own collective bargaining agreement, which is meant to protect pilots jobs at JetBlue:
JetBlue is pursuing a so-called “domestic partnership” — another endeavor that could fundamentally reshape this airline and impact our futures. Instead of transparency, however, we have secrecy. Instead of consultation, exclusion.
We all know — as does management — that job security protections, including the current prohibition on entering into a commercial agreement, exist in CBA Section 1 to protect our careers. Yet management has not come to the union. They have not addressed our concerns. They choose to not even acknowledge their workforce…
We are not part of their plan.
The letter concludes, “This is not a company operating with the best interests of its pilots in mind — at all. However they choose to spin this, this is a company planning a future without its pilots.”
What Pilots Are Really Angry About: Trust
Live And Let’s Fly spoke to a JetBlue pilot, who told me:
The issue is that most codeshare type agreements would violate our contract given the fact the airline isn’t growing. Given that you would think management would have been talking to at least the top union leadership under an NDA about what they are proposing and how both sides can work together to make it happen.
But they haven’t. Union leadership knows as much about this whole thing as I do. And this is sadly part of a pattern with our management. When the contract gets in the way of what they want to do they just ignore it and press forward anyway. (That they can do this is a great example of why the Railway Labor Act is problematic, but I digress…)
That lack of respect for us and unwillingness to treat us as partners in the success of JetBlue is why the union and pilots are unhappy. It’s not about United. That might well turn out to be a good thing for us. And if so I’m sure pilots and the union would be willing to engage in amendments to our contract to bring that about. But for those amendments to happen they have to talk to us and include us in the process.
I appreciated the candor and that does seem to get to the heart of this: pilots are not even part of the conversation. It represents a missed opportunity to build bridges and solidify trust, even if JetBlue thinks that isn’t necessary because the company is losing money and the pilots won’t jump due to the seniority system.
CONCLUSION
Other reporting on this issue has focused on JetBlue pilots being unhappy with the possible United Airlines deal. But that’s not it at all. The real issue is the perceived lack of respect shown by management at JetBlue towards its pilots.
JetBlue pilots are angry and while the carrier may think it has the upper hand due to market conditions, if pilot union leaders have not even been consulted on discussions with United, that seems like a poor stewardship of leadership.
image: JetBlue
negotiating new commercial agreements that impact flying is a matter of trust to employees and it isn’t a surprise that JBLU pilots are upset.
the UA-B6 potential agreement comes after years of dumb strategic decisions by B6 that not only seriously weakened the company’s financial state but has led to share loss esp. against DL.
an AA-AS style codesharing deal and even Star alliance membership for B6 poses little to no threat to either airline’s pilots but both pilot groups have every reason to be very skeptical of anything that involves more.
and a slot swap would be an existential threat to both AA and B6 at JFK since the transcon routes are their highest revenue and likely most profitable, as is true for DL
The stakes got higher yesterday as UA said it would cancel about 35 flights – 10% of its flights at EWR – until runway construction is over. UA is blaming the FAA – which is responsible for having working ATC equipment and personnel – but the only real question is whether UA is trying to run too many flights through EWR during construction and is receiving the just rewards of a strategy of not sufficiently cutting down to what EWR can support during construction.
EWR cannot support the size UA wants to be in NYC; DL’s 2 airport NYC hub strategy is the best answer for the area given the 3 airports. UA wants to return EWR to slot controls even though it, 10 years ago, failed to utilize the slots that did exist which is why EWR is not slot controlled and LGA and JFK still are. UA”s EWR hub is the only one where a carrier has more than 50% market share in a NYC airport. And you still have to ask the question as to whether much of these delays will blow over when the runway reopens in a couple months.
UA would love for B6 to fill the share size that UA cannot obtain w/ its current strategy. UA and B6 pilots and other employees should ask whether any partnership is good for them.
US consumers and regulators should be asking whether allowing UA to increase its already leading size in NYC even at JFK which it doesn’t serve is in the best interest of consumers – and the answer is undoubtedly that any growth of the big 3 in a limited access airport environment such as NYC is not good for consumers.
Save your UA EWR comments, that story is coming next! 😉
IIRC, the JetBlue pilots union Rattled their Saber with the AA NEA agreement.
All are jockeying for position; all are in a state of anxiety until the final agreement is announced.
Nothing new here!!!
The JetBlue pilots ended up being paid in excess of a million dollars to settle the grievance over the NEA. That’s more than just saber rattling.
I’m sure it all the money went to the union. =;-)
I think one of the biggest issues is them not mentioning it and hearing about a possible merger from a third party. You have to understand that could majorly effect seniority for not only them but for United pilots and flight attendants. So it’s not only going to face opposition from JetBlue staff logically it could be similar at United. United shouldn’t even be allowed to partner or merge with JetBlue as it definitely would create a monopoly. United already has bases in EWR, BOS, LAX, FLL, MCO so the only reason they want JetBlue is just so they can get JFK slots and take over New York completely. It should not be allowed
You should offer up your definition of ‘base’., because having a base and having a hub are two very different things. Bases don’t matter in the argument you’re trying to make.
Furthermore, DL is no. 1 at JFK AND LGA. if UA absorbed B6 it would be no. 2 at JFK, no. 1 at EWR, and no. 3 at LGA.. DL would be no. 4 at EWR.. Not much difference there to make an argument against it.
Seems to me the pilots should be happy they’re being paid to fly, and stop whining. Management is not obliged to dial you in to every meeting. You’re not that important.
Until you need a plane off the ground.
Hope ua shuts down jetblew
They’re always greedy and want a piece of the action. To quote their complaint “Jet Blue isn’t run for the benefit of its pilots” – because as far as there concerned, that’s the only legitimate function of the airline – to pad their bank accounts, give them lavish pensions, and if the business collapses in the meantime – that’s just fine with them so long as they get to suck it dry.