A JetBlue-Spirit Merger Could Trigger A Battle Between Two Charismatic Union Leaders

If JetBlue’s bid to acquire Spirit succeeds, it would likely lead to a clash over which union would represent the combined airlines’ flight attendants.

JetBlue’s approximately 5,000 flight attendants are represented by the Transport Workers Union, while Spirit’s approximately 4,500 flight attendants are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants.

After a merger, flight attendants would likely have an opportunity to vote on whom they want to represent them.

Both unions are headed by charismatic figures. Sara Nelson, the country’s most prominent labor leader, is AFA president. John Samuelsen, a New Yorker who started as a subway track worker, is TWU president.

In the event of a merger, “We would pursue representation of the entire group,” Samuelsen said.

“It wouldn’t be a hostile election, but there’s got to be a representation choice,” he said. “We’ve had representation elections before. This is the reality of life.”

Nelson said it’s “irresponsible” to raise the possibility of a post-merger union election at this early stage. “Talking about that right now skips over major leverage points for workers,” she said. “Our job is to improve conditions for workers and to be strategic about how we do that.”

Often, workers lose in mergers, Nelson said, while the winners fall into three groups: Shareholders and financiers get windfalls and executives get bonuses or golden parachutes. Acquirers “brag about the costs they save,” she said. “Where do you think those savings come from?”

“AFA has been through dozens of mergers,” she said. “This doesn’t go well for workers unless labor figures out how to outsmart [airlines] and work every single second on solidarity.”

TWU has about 150,000 members. Of those, 70,000 are airline workers, including 25,000 flight attendants, of whom 12,000 work at Southwest Airlines. AFA is the largest flight attendant union, with nearly 50,000 flight attendants at 17 airlines.

TWU organized JetBlue flight attendants in 2018 and signed the first contract in 2021. “It was a hard-fought organizing drive, and we’ve had a very positive impact for the flight attendants,” Samuelsen said. “We’ve settled the crucial first contract, and we have a never give up mentality.”

Many airline experts doubt JetBlue’s attempt to acquire Spirit will succeed. Samuelsen said he backs it. “It’s a potential opportunity for all of the flight attendants involved to have expanded growth, with double the number of routes,” he said. JetBlue’s bid is an attempt to break up Frontier’s deal to acquire Spirit, which the management of both companies have agreed to.

AFA organized Spirit flight attendants in 2000 and signed the first contract in 2007. AFA organized Frontier flight attendants in 2010 and signed the first contract in 2011. Frontier now has 2,500 flight attendants. Nelson said the union has been working to ensure a merger between the two would benefit flight attendants.