Boston, MA 04/25/2014 (wallstreetpr) – JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU) flight attendants wants to hold unionization vote. This is their second attempt to vote on unionization at the formerly non-union airline. The flight attendants have come together with the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) for signing the authorization cards. Once they get the authorization cards they would be able to hold an election under national labor rules. The continuous efforts are made to succeed this time. It is an effort by the flight attendants to secure their future and prevent the scenario of job loss resulting out of mergers.
The company’s view
The airline is still not worried about the situation. The management had made it cleared that they are well informed about the union drives by flight attendants. JetBlue believes the efforts to be in the initial phase. It is something not very serious that need immediate attention. It is ok if unions and some other people within the companies are willing to bring the unions in. JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU) stated that still the tipping point appears far off.
The authorization of cards
In the first attempt, the Transport Workers Union of America mentioned that the union will get the required number of cards to hold unionization vote. Last time the drive came within about 250 cards. However, these are just the claims that yet need to be verified. The first drive ended in last October as authorization cards have the validity of just 12 months. If this time the drive succeeds, then JetBlue will no longer be a non-union carrier. A union of 4,000 JetBlue flight attendants and 2,600 JetBlue pilots will come together to represent the Air Line Pilots Association.
The unionization drive is supported by 71% of the pilots who are eligible to vote. The news was not taken positively by the market and, as a result the stock fell by 4%.
