Pilots Again Reject ALPA Representation

JetBlue Airways Corporation is no doubt the envy of its competitors today. For the second time in two years, the airline's pilots have rejected union representation by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), in a vote which concluded Tuesday.

JetBlue has announced the results in a press release which notes it is still entirely non-union. Of the 2,050 pilots who voted, 1,193 of them, or 58 percent, rejected the ALPA. 41 percent voted in favor of the union, while there were 23 write-ins preferring other unions. JetBlue attributes the outcome to its system of individual pilot contracts which automatically renew, and its record of never furloughing pilots or cutting their pay. The company has worked to convince its employees that direct collaboration produces better results than union contracts applied to an entire workforce.

JetBlue CEO Dave Barger commented, "I would like to thank all JetBlue pilots for their thoughtful consideration of the issues in this campaign, and for electing to retain and expand their direct relationship with the company. Now that the election is concluded, I look forward to getting back to the business of truly reinventing the traditional airline management-labor relationship, as only JetBlue can."

ALPA released a statement saying it recognizes the decision and respects the democratic process.

FMI: www.jetblue.com ; www.alpa.org