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April 6, 2023

JetBlue Airlines Settles California State Wage Case with 614 Flight Attendants for $3.6 Million

On March 31, 2023, a federal district judge approved a $3.6 million settlement agreement between JetBlue Airways Corp. and a class of 614 flight attendants to resolve claims that JetBlue violated California labor law.The lawsuit claimed that JetBlue did not compensate flight attendants based in California for all hours worked and failed to provide them with accurate wage statements.
Home » News » JetBlue Airlines Settles California State Wage Case with 614 Flight Attendants for $3.6 Million

Matthew Purushotham
Thu, 04/06/2023

On March 31, 2023, a federal district judge approved a $3.6 million settlement agreement between JetBlue Airways Corp. and a class of 614 flight attendants to resolve claims that JetBlue violated California labor law. The lawsuit claimed that JetBlue did not compensate flight attendants based in California for all hours worked and failed to provide them with accurate wage statements. The lawsuit also included claims under California’s Private Attorneys General Act that allows individuals to sue for labor law violations on behalf of the state and receive a portion of any financial recovery. In this settlement, the state will receive 75% of the $600,000 award and the employees will receive 25%. MSE covered this case in some detail when the  parties first reached settlement in August 2022.

On the day before the approval of the settlement, Gov. Gavin Newson signed into law a bill (SB 41) unanimously passed by the California legislature that requires airlines to negotiate with cabin crews and their unions over in-flight meal and rest breaks. The airlines are deemed compliant with the new law only if meal and rest breaks are covered by provisions in the cabin crews’ collective bargain agreements. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, and the unions representing employees, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and the Transit Workers Union, negotiated the language of the new law, which goes in effect immediately.

McGillivary Steele Elkin has recovered unpaid wages for workers in other types of meal period cases under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, including cases involving Child Protective Specialistsand  FDNY Motor Vehicle Operators in New York City. MSE has also previously covered a California Court of Appeals ruling that underscored the right of employees to  leave their employers’ premises during meal breaks, as well as a ruling requiring  bonuses and other discretionary payments in meal and rest break premiums.

If you your employer has failed to compensate you appropriately for meal or rest breaks, contact us at  info@mselaborlaw.com.

Legal Representation for All Workers

When McGillivary Steele Elkin LLP decides to take your case, it is because we believe there is an unacceptable workplace violation that has negatively impacted you or resulted in your employer paying less than what the law requires and which we have a reasonable chance of remedying. We recognize that meritorious claims should not go unremedied because of the level of a person’s resources.

To ensure accessible and available legal representation for all our clients, MSE handles cases through different forms of fee arrangements, including contingency fees, hourly fees and fixed fees.

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