VALUES COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR WHINES, DEFENDS JETBLUE MANAGEMENT AND SUB-STANDARD PAY, BENEFITS AND WORKING CONDITIONS The Values Committee co-chair, who is paid by JetBlue management not to work ground operations and paid to travel the system to discourage GO Crewmembers from getting their fair share in pay, benefits and working conditions by unionizing, whined yesterday about the fact the IAM UNION correctly pointed out that JetBlue GO Crewmembers’ base wage rates are below the industry average for airlines with approximately 1,000 daily flights and approximately $10 billion in annual revenues. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg regarding the ways GO Crewmembers are undervalued by JetBlue management and the VC co-chair.
What the VC co-chair left out on his “Happy Acat Day” email was the 5% automatic 401k contribution that was stripped away from GO Crewmembers to pay for the “raises” that GO Crewmembers received. What has JetBlue management and the VC co-chair done about mandatory shift extensions (MSE) and the over-working of Crewmembers caused by short staffing? Has the VC co-chair been MSE'd lately or told to work extremely heavy flights with insufficient staffing? That would be a big NO because JetBlue management pays him a lot of money to sit in an office and misinform his GO Crewmember colleagues about the benefits of union representation. What’s JetBlue management the VC co-chair’s plan to stop or lessen the “critical coverage” BS and taking away Crewmembers’ ability to cross-train? What is the plan to improve the quality and lessen the cost of medical insurance? What is the plan to improve the worst retirement security in the airline industry for GO workers? To increase the number of holidays and the pay when we work a holiday? What about when we have to reschedule our lunch, or if we don’t get one? What about the OPS premium that used to be $2.50 per hour but now is $1.00 per hour? Is the VC co-chair kidding? What about the GO Crewmember who was issued a LOC with no questions asked because management said he was “speaking in a loud tone.” These are the type of things that happen when there is no union and no representation. Where’s the profit sharing? Why are GO Crewmembers the only GO workers in the airline industry who don’t receive profit sharing/incentive payments? Why are LGA and EWR GO Crewmembers with 11 years seniority disrespected by earning $1 less per hour—over $2,000 per year for full-time GO Crewmembers at the top of the pay scale—compared to their co-workers who work less than 10 miles away at JFK Airport? Why the disparity? The bottom line is, WE, GO Crewmembers DO NOT HAVE A VOICE OR ANY POWER in the decisions that JetBlue management and the VC co-chair are making for us, which affect our lives and the lives of our family members. The VC co-chair is being used by CEO Geraghty, just as former CEO Robin Hayes used him. During the 2023 union election we were told changes would be made to improve our jobs at JetBlue. All those who were telling us to “give them a year” and “it will be better” are gone now. The VC co-chair is still around and continues his job of parroting management’s anti-union talking points. Finally, the VC co-chair refused to address the lies he told at the last JFK pocket session that we pointed out and correct the record. We call on CEO Geraghty to do this when she visits for another pocket session at JFK on April 10th. We ask all GO Crewmembers demand truth and transparency from CEO Geraghty and direct the VC co-chair to cease his unlawful union busting. Comments are closed.
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