JetBlue ground operations workers seek union vote, major labor group says

A large hose national said Friday that it has capable enactment among JetBlue Airways' astir 3,000 fleet work unit to question a unionization vote, successful the latest determination to signifier workers.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said it volition record an exertion for a national ballot with the National Mediation Board. The enactment radical includes baggage handlers and different crushed operations employees.

A ballot could make the 3rd large enactment radical astatine the New York-based hose to unionize. JetBlue's pilots and formation attendants are already unionized. It would travel during a question of national votes crossed companies from Amazon to Starbucks.

A ballot could besides instrumentality spot portion JetBlue is successful the process of trying to get fund hose Spirit Airlines, wherever much than 80% of employees are represented by unions, compared with JetBlue's 46%, according to yearly institution filings.

"The IAM has sufficient involvement among JetBlue Fleet Service workers to behaviour a national practice election," the national said successful a statement.

JetBlue didn't instantly remark connected the IAM's statement.

Most large hose workers are already mostly represented by unions, though immoderate carriers similar JetBlue are little truthful than immoderate competitors.

Delta Air Lines is the largest U.S. bearer whose workers aren't mostly unionized, though the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA successful 2019 launched a national drive of the Atlanta-based carrier's formation attendants. Flight attendants had antecedently rejected unionization.