Other Pilots Want Multiple Contract Improvements. Jet Blue Pilots, Facing Merger, Just Want More Pay

Nearly every U.S. pilot group is negotiating a contract, but the JetBlue chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association has a unique approach. As the carrier enters what promises to be a multi-year merger process, it just wants higher pay.

The JetBlue pilot contract became amendable on August 1; the two sides began negotiations on March 1, six months in advance of that date. In October, JetBlue and Spirit agreed to merge. At that point, “The MEC turned to more focused negotiations on compensation,” said Chris Kenney, chairman of the master executive council of the 4,700 member JetBlue ALPA chapter.

With a merger pending, the normal slow course of comprehensive Section 6 contract talks would have meant that “we were going down a path that would take us years — as resources were expended and as the regulatory aspect played out – to get the pilots up to date with the industry,” said Kenney, a Los Angeles-based A320 captain. “We decided it would be better to negotiate compensation.

The likely conclusion of the regulatory review of the merger likely won’t come until 2024. “That is too late and too long for JetBlue pilots to wait for the career advancement they’ve earned,” said Wayne Scales, a Boston-based A320 captain and chairman of the strategic preparedness strike committee.

“We narrowed this down by setting aside work rule and scheduling issues that affect pilot quality of life, in order to expedite this process and secure an agreement as quickly as possible,” said Scales, a Boston-based A320 captain. “That has allowed JetBlue to devote its resources to merging two large airlines. They should have the incentive to complete (our talks) expeditiously.”

A breakthrough in the industry’s ongoing pilot contract talks came late Friday, when Delta ALPA announced an agreement in principle that would provide an immediate 15% pay raise and a cumulative raise of 34% after three years, plus multiple work/life balance improvements.

Asked if the Delta deal influences JetBlue talks, Kenney responded, “The Delta agreement in principle does support us in a way that shows where the industry is going for compensation these days.

“But it’s not just Delta,” he said. “The industry has changed even with the Alaska tentative agreement, with over 20% pay increases across the pilot group. The market had already changed, and we feel our pilots should be brought up to market.”

At JetBlue, an Airbus A320 captain with 12 years seniority earns $283 hourly. That compares to about $330 at Delta, $310 at American and United and $306 under the Alaska contract.

Kenney expected a deal with JetBlue at a two-day negotiating session last week in Long Island City. Now, he said, he is focused on talks scheduled for today and early next week. “We believe we should have had an agreement last week,”: he said. “If we don’t have an agreement by Tuesday, we will officially announce that we are in a labor dispute, as our way of showing frustration.”

JetBlue said Tuesday it is committed to pay raises for pilots.

“We respect the collective bargaining process and look forward to continuing negotiations to finalize an extension of the JetBlue pilot contract that will provide our pilots with industry competitive pay rates,” the carrier said in a prepared statement.

In a letter distributed to pilots on Dec. 3, the carrier’s negotiating team said it is pleased with progress made last week.

“Although the parties have not yet come to an agreement, both agree that the contract extension should represent JetBlue pilots’ contributions to the company’s success by including the industry competitive pay rates you have earned,” the negotiating team said.

The letter noted, however, that “Even with a narrow negotiating scope, coming to an agreement takes time.” For instance, it said, “When issues like early termination clauses are introduced, not by the company, complexity is increased.”

Regarding the pilots’ intention to declare a labor dispute, the letter said, “Both parties previously agreed to a process with scheduled negotiating dates through January, if necessary. We are honoring our side of that agreement.

“To that end, both parties have agreed to an additional bargaining session next Wednesday, December 7, which marks just over the half-way point of the scheduled negotiating sessions,” the letter said. “We look forward to the continuation of progress made during the previous five days and are committed to reaching an agreement.”

It seems the pressure is mounting.

Last week, ALPA national said it had approved a $5 million grant from its major contingency fund to JetBlue ALPA. Said Scales, “We intend to use that at strategically appropriate times to execute traditional union tactics – billboard, digital advertising, informational picketing – to create pressure on management to deliver the contract the pilots have earned.”