JetBlue Airways flight attendants voted to unionize as over 66% voted yes to be represented by the Transport Workers Union. The next step, will be a negotiation between the flight attendants and the airline on new work rules, pay, benefits and more.
JetBlue Airways Flight Attendants to Unionize
While it may be considered a win for the flight attendants, I think it’s the passengers that may notice a change. JetBlue Mint offers one of the best transcontinental products, where flight attendants have to go through additional training to serve in Mint, and the service is truly a step up from the other US carriers.
When it comes to flight attendants at most US airlines, most of them are union (United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines) and when it comes to the overall service you receive on US airlines, it’s a far cry from what many international carriers offer.
Delta Air Lines is non-union, and I think you could argue that they offer a superior service onboard compared to their two main rivals of United and American. It will be interesting to see if Delta can continue to remain the last non-union US carrier. When you bring in an union, you add new work rules and even a different mindset and sometimes the service can become an after thought.
Per CNBC,
JetBlue’s roughly 5,000 flight attendants have voted to unionize, the New York-based airline said on Tuesday.
“While we respect the outcome of the election, we are disappointed in this result because we believe the direct relationship is superior to third-party representation,” JetBlue said in a statement. The airline’s pilots have already unionized and the flight attendants’ vote means they will soon start negotiating with the carrier a contract that could include pay standards and job protection.
The flight attendants voted 2,661 to 1,387 to join the Transport Workers Union, the labor group said.
“The crewmembers want and deserve job security, representation and due process in disciplinary cases, improved wages and benefits, and a seat at the table in case of possible merger or acquisition,” said TWU.
What are your thoughts about JetBlue Airways flight attendants going union? Do you think they’ll continue to offer great service onboard especially in Mint? Feel free to share your thoughts below.
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Bye bye nice service from Jet Blue….All you have to do is fly Delta or jet Blue and then fly AA or United to see the real downgrade in service….
Such a shame
Service? FA’s are there for our safety not service as the unions like to remind us. Seriously most FA’s are very nice and work very hard. They are underpaid much of the time I think and deal with some really hard to deal with people in stressful situations. Not sure unionizing is the best approach but it’s what they voted on so we’ll see.
I’m sure that service will get better now that the FA’s have to send money to their union every paycheck.
NOT
The dogs ate the union food thinking their checks and benefits would go up enough to cover their dues. Never happens
Unions are a big scam for the most part. I could see the importance for pilots but its just ridiculous for flight attendants to be unionized. No education required, a few weeks of training. Its not like you lose your job and you have lost what you have worked for your entire life.