FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2023
Contact: Jonna Huseman, jhuseman@twu.org
Statement from the Transport Workers Union of America on DOJ Announcement to Block JetBlue-Spirit Acquisition
Washington, D.C. – John Samuelsen, International President of the Transport Workers Union, issues this statement in response to the Department of Justice announcing it will sue to block the proposed JetBlue Airways-Spirit Airlines Merger:
“Today, the Department of Justice is proving, unequivocally, that it sees through the charade being pushed upon working people and the flying public by JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines. The hostile acquisition of Spirit by JetBlue would create a monopoly in the market, drive down competition and kill blue-collar jobs, while enriching the ultra-wealthy at the expense of working people and the flying public. The DOJ is right to stop this so-called merger with every ounce of its being.
“Management at JetBlue Airways has already demonstrated a significant pattern of gross incompetence, and a shocking disregard for its workers. Expanding this negligence-based business model would wreak havoc on the airline industry and further harm a post-COVID economic recovery.
“Working people know all too well what happens when carriers merge and industries consolidate – the outcomes are never good for anyone except those at the top. We are pleased that the DOJ understands these concerns and agrees that a JetBlue twice as big would be twice as bad. The TWU is calling on the Department of Transportation to also use its separate authority to block this deal and make it clear that JetBlue’s greed is not in the public interest.”
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The TWU represents more than 155,000 workers across the airline, railroad, transit, universities, utilities and service sectors. The TWU is the largest airline workers union in the United States.