JetBlue Flight Attendants Picket Outside Airline HQ in LIC Amid Merger

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — JetBlue flight attendants convened outside the airline’s headquarters in Long Island City Monday to demand the company clarify how the acquisition between Spirit Airlines and JetBlue will affect workers.

Nearly 100 JetBlue flight attendants and members of the Transport Workers Union Local 579 gathered at 27-01 Queens Plaza North to demand protection for workers as JetBlue continues its plans to merge with Spirit Airlines despite an antitrust lawsuit from the Department of Justice.

“As flight attendants, we are the cornerstone of JetBlue, critical to its success, yet JetBlue management continues to disregard our members,” said Tyesha Best, President of TWU Local 579.

“It would be extremely difficult to support this acquisition considering JetBlue hasn’t provided legally binding protections for us and continues to dismiss our requests to be treated fairly,” Best added.

JetBlue flight attendants face higher attrition rates compared to industry standards, as well as lower pay, and many have been unable to seek higher leadership opportunities, according to union members.

The union represents more than 6,800 JetBlue flight attendants.

The picket on Monday comes after DOJ sued the airline to block the $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit.

“The proposed transaction will increase fares and reduce choice on routes across the country, raising costs for the flying public and harming cost-conscious fliers most acutely,” reads a statement by DOJ.