Air Line Pilots Association Calls for Negotiations on Pay and Working Conditions
Nearly 5,000 pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have served a notice to JetBlue Airways (JBLU), urging the airline to open negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. This move comes after the pilots negotiated a contract extension with the company during its pursuit of a merger with Spirit Airlines, which has since been called off.
Justin Houck, head of the JetBlue ALPA master executive council, emphasized the expectation for JetBlue to negotiate terms on pay and working conditions aligned with industry standards. JetBlue has yet to respond to the union’s request for comment.
JetBlue’s CEO, Joanna Geraghty, recently pledged to restore the airline’s profitability by implementing cost-cutting measures, including employee buyouts. The push for better pay and benefits among pilots reflects a broader trend across North America, driven by a shortage of aviators amid a surge in air travel. Southwest Airlines pilots, for example, recently approved a new labor agreement that includes a substantial pay raise over a five-year period.
You might like this article:Fanapt Receives FDA Approval for Bipolar I Disorder Treatment
