The Air Line Pilots Association in the US said it has approved a US$5 million grant for JetBlue Airways pilots after contract negotiations with the airline management "resulted in insufficient progress to yield an agreement acceptable to the pilot group".
The association said if the airline wants "to avoid possible labour strife", it should "come to the bargaining table with proposals that appropriately value its pilots".
The grant, it said, was for a "war chest" that can be used for picketing, ads, media work and events to promote the pilots' demands, which ALPA said were aimed at bringing contracts "into line with the rising market for pilots at other airlines" ahead of possible JetBlue merger talks with other airlines.