JetBlue flight attendants vote to bring second union to irline

JetBlue Airways flight attendants voted to join the Transport Workers Union, becoming only the second employee group represented by organized labor at the carrier. Flight attendants voted 2,661 to 1,387 in favour of joining the TWU, the union said Tuesday. Two earlier attempts to organise the group failed, although those efforts didn’t get to a vote. JetBlue aviators joined the Air Line Pilots Association in 2014 and still are negotiating their initial contract. Adding another collective-bargaining unit raises the prospect of higher costs at JetBlue as it negotiates pay rates and new, less flexible work rules for its 4,800 flight attendants. The carrier for years has touted the value of its “direct relationship” with employees over having to work through unions. The flight attendants sought representation, in part, to improve wages and increase job protection -- particularly in the event of any mergers involving JetBlue -- and to have a voice in lobbying policy makers on issues affecting the industry.<br/>