Employment Contract

[luv2fly]

Could someone tell me if the pilots are required to sign a limtited employment contract. I have heard that JB has pilots sign 4 or 5 year contracts subject to renewal. If this is so, have there been any pilots that have not had the contracts renewed? Thanks.

 

[javaboy]

true statement 5 year agreement is signed, none have come up for renewal yet.

 

[Fubijaakr]

You gotta admit, its a BRILLIANT strategy in labor relations.

Anyone who signs a Union card or engages in organizing activity is shown the door at the 5 year mark.

And by not renewing a certain percentange of contracts they ensure that the work force remains on the lower end of the pay scale.

BRILLIANT!!!

 

[javaboy]

that is not quite correct.

 

[Bear96]

How so?

 

[v1rotate]

You gotta admit, its a BRILLIANT strategy in labor relations.

Anyone who signs a Union card or engages in organizing activity is shown the door at the 5 year mark.

And by not renewing a certain percentange of contracts they ensure that the work force remains on the lower end of the pay scale.

BRILLIANT!!!

Fubi

Again, you show up from under that proverbial rock you live under and continue to spout off about subjects that you have little or no knowledge of. Now that’s brilliant!

v1

ps...go back to the Yahoo boards…they miss you!

 

[Light Years]

I hope this isnt the future of airline employment- you had your five years, see ya.

 

[Bear96]

Fubi

Again, you show up from under that proverbial rock you live under and continue to spout off about subjects that you have little or no knowledge of. Now that’s brilliant!

v1

ps...go back to the Yahoo boards…they miss you!

Again, what is wrong with Fubi's assessment of jB's motivation for using periodic employment contracts? What he said is essentially the conclusion I reached too when thinking, "Hmmm, why do they have a system like that?"

If we are so wrong about it, please explain how, and why jB chose to do something so basic as a term of employment differently than all other airlines.

Really, I'd like to know. Just saying "you're wrong" or "you don't know what you are talking about" doesn't help those of us non-jB-ers understand the great secret behind it.

 

[javaboy]

there is no great secrect behind the contract.

it is

1. automatically renewable each five years.

2. you can be removed for cause

that's it.

there's more but that should be enough.

 

[Bear96]

Javaboy thanks for the response. I really am curious as to how it works.

But I still don't understand...

What does "automatically renewable" mean? To me, that would mean at the end of the five-year period, a new five-year period starts automatically, no questions asked. (Unless it is "for cause," I suppose, but then I would assume they can terminate for cause at any time, not just at the end of the five year period.)

But, if it is truly "automatically renewable," why go through the rigamarole of having the five year period in the first place? Seems like an unnecessary hassle or technicality. So why have it?

And, correct me if I am wrong, but so far the "automatically renewable" part is still just a management promise, no? I mean, jB is not five years old yet, so so far no one has had their contract "automatically" renewed, so no one yet really knows how this works in actual application, correct?

I would also be interested in the "there's more" if you are able to share.

 

[AKAAB]

With all the people that said JetBlue wouldn't survive - five years was a pipedream. Lo and behold, JetBlue is still around, so the five year threshold will have to be reviewed.

We've been through this discussion before. Management knows that if they used the five year term to purge senior pilots, they would destroy everything they had worked for - trust and committment.

I have no worries that my contract is an "evergreen" contract - meaning it will automatically renew.

It also works both ways - with our first classes approaching the five year mark, it will behoove management to review the contract for payscale improvements and benefits.

 

[Bear96]

Oh, I don't doubt that jB management is smart enough to automatically renew most of the contracts, or even all for the first few groups. However I would be curious to know the reasons why some will not renewed, especially if and when jB-ers start contemplating unionizing. And when much if the work force starts to reach the top of the pay scales. Plus, I am more interested to see this in the F/A and ground staff as opposed to the pilots, who are indeed less likely to be jerked around by management.

I am still hoping someone will answer my question, though, if I am so off-base about it: if everyone is so confident their contracts will be "automatically" renewed, why have such a system in the first place? Seems kinda pointless.

 

[v1rotate]

This is from the 2003 stock holders report.

"We enter into an individual employment agreement with each of our FAA-licensed employees, which include pilots, dispatchers and technicians. Each employment agreement is for the term of five years and automatically renews for an additional five-year term unless either the employee or we elect to not renew it by giving notice at least 90 days before the end of the initial term. Pursuant to these agreements, these employees can only be terminated for cause. In the event of a downturn in our business, we are obligated to pay these employees a guaranteed level of income and to continue their benefits if they do not obtain other aviation employment. In addition, in the event we are sold to or consolidate with another company, we must request that the successor company place these employees on a preferential hiring list. If such employees are not hired by the successor company, in some cases they will be entitled to a severance payment of up to one year's salary."

I hope this answers some questions. This contract is a win-win for both the employee and the company. It has built in protections for both parties. Do your job, you'll have no problems. Life is good. Every one of you knows individual employees that should have been shown the door long ago, but for some reason (union) they just won't go away. Now that's a real problem.

v1

 

[Fubijaakr]

Each employment agreement is for the term of five years and automatically renews for an additional five-year term unless either the employee or we elect to not renew it by giving notice at least 90 days before the end of the initial term.

But, WHO determines what constitutes "cause"? The Company, of course. And signing a Union Card may just be enough "cause."

And who said they had to get rid of senior guys wholesale. Just prune off a few of the "Union troublemakers" in order to scare the rank and file back into line. Considering most JBLU pilots are furloughees who are grateful for any flying job, dropping the axe on a couple your "high profile" guys would do the trick.

Message sent, loud and clear.

And without a Union, what's the terminated pilot going to say? Nothing.

So, don't get defensive, JBLU pilots. As I said before it IS a brilliant strategy from the Management's viewpoint. Really, I admire the Needle and his cronies. He's got you right where he wants you.

 

[jB-Rocks]

You gotta admit, its a BRILLIANT strategy in labor relations.

Anyone who signs a Union card or engages in organizing activity is shown the door at the 5 year mark.

And by not renewing a certain percentange of contracts they ensure that the work force remains on the lower end of the pay scale.

BRILLIANT!!!

Obviously a union harliner!

Some people just don't get it!
:down: