Spirit Airlines Pilots walk out
FXE is Fort Lauderdale Executive! I think you'll find that SWA (and NKS) operate out of FLL 
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Sunset_contrails_10, I can tell you have not been in the airline business very long. Are you one of those pilots that would also pay for a type rating? You guys are pathetic. You guys are the reason we fight in the first place. You keep lowering the bar in this industry.
Good luck on your job search (I see you are looking one - what a surprise!) but I guarantee you this type of attitude will get you no sympathy/respect in the cockpit.
Spirit Airlines pilots will be known in this industry. We will get what we want.
Good luck on your job search (I see you are looking one - what a surprise!) but I guarantee you this type of attitude will get you no sympathy/respect in the cockpit.
Spirit Airlines pilots will be known in this industry. We will get what we want.
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But, but Spirit management said they would close down their FLL base if the pilots went on strike! Were they lying or just changed their mind?
I know management wouldn't lie to it's employees like that just so they wouldn't strike......or would they?
I don't think that threat has been ever used before my management......
or has it?
And the beat goes on.....
I know management wouldn't lie to it's employees like that just so they wouldn't strike......or would they?
I don't think that threat has been ever used before my management......
or has it?
And the beat goes on.....
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The strike is over!!!
We have reached a tentative agreement with the company. All pilots are returning to work this Friday. Pilots still need to vote for or against it in early July. According to the union, the tentative agreement meets all our expectations.
I am waiting to see the TA before celebrating but this was a good fight. This is what happens when everyone stick together. Management was cornered. They had no choice. Power to the pilots!
We have reached a tentative agreement with the company. All pilots are returning to work this Friday. Pilots still need to vote for or against it in early July. According to the union, the tentative agreement meets all our expectations.
I am waiting to see the TA before celebrating but this was a good fight. This is what happens when everyone stick together. Management was cornered. They had no choice. Power to the pilots!
As harsh as it may sound - The US domestic airline network has a massive over capacity problem. The market on the whole can simply not justify and sustain the current number of seats
I don't think so. Maybe a couple of years ago.
Of course being intimatedly involved in the airline business I would never invest in it (Fuel fluctuations, SARS, Volcanic Ash disruptions, Unhappy labour, over and undercapacity at the wrong times etc. )
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Ok, I understand now. Airline management lies all the time because no matter how many times they lie some people will still believe them. Especially the public who only see the lies when it directly affects their lives.
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saskatoon
no offense, but I don't think you have a clue how airlines work in the USA and how contracts work.
first off , these brave guys have been trying to get a contract update for3 years. so anything about last 12 months means zilch/nothing/nada/ zippo.
good luck spirit guys...and if the TA is as good as what the union expected, it sounds like the management team crumbled/caved in.
One of the really sad things is this. Management gets a bonus for screwing over pilots...management gets fired when things go well for pilots.
expect a new management team!
no offense, but I don't think you have a clue how airlines work in the USA and how contracts work.
first off , these brave guys have been trying to get a contract update for3 years. so anything about last 12 months means zilch/nothing/nada/ zippo.
good luck spirit guys...and if the TA is as good as what the union expected, it sounds like the management team crumbled/caved in.
One of the really sad things is this. Management gets a bonus for screwing over pilots...management gets fired when things go well for pilots.
expect a new management team!
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How can a contract that has been signed in the past 12mths be worthless?
Spirit's CBA was up for renewal three years ago. During these three years, negotiations have gone nowhere. The union said management dragged its feet to avoid committing to a new CBA, management said it wasn't true. Either way, the union got tired of waiting after three years, called in a strike and there's now apparently an agreement on a new CBA.
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Sounds like Sunset has it right to me....
The 'new' ALPO guys have sh** for brains.
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Guys, you should be able to smell a windup on these forums. 411A and Sunset are nothing more than trolls fishing the PPRUNE waters. The best thing to do is ignore them and let them sit there with their fishing poles and no bites.
As far as the argument that "you sign a contract when you get hired, now deal with it", that shows a complete lack of understanding. Management also sign up with a set contract, yet they also renegotiate and get pay rises as the company grows and becomes more profitable. Why should any other employee group be any different?
And what about when management asks you for concessions? You can't apply one logic when the company needs your help, then turn around and say it is not valid during better times.
And for all you bottom-racers on here, there is a reason that all aircraft manufacturers are pushing for silly measures like MPLs and single pilot cockpits. Don't loose sight of this fact whenever you sell yourself short.
To all Spirit Crew; good to hear that you have reached an agreement and I hope that it meets or exceeds your expectations. Well done boys and girls, you have set an example that unity, participation, and spending time to know your rights is a powerful weapon against corporate tyranny. Next time we are in the bar together, whenever that may be, the round is on me!
As far as the argument that "you sign a contract when you get hired, now deal with it", that shows a complete lack of understanding. Management also sign up with a set contract, yet they also renegotiate and get pay rises as the company grows and becomes more profitable. Why should any other employee group be any different?
And what about when management asks you for concessions? You can't apply one logic when the company needs your help, then turn around and say it is not valid during better times.
And for all you bottom-racers on here, there is a reason that all aircraft manufacturers are pushing for silly measures like MPLs and single pilot cockpits. Don't loose sight of this fact whenever you sell yourself short.
To all Spirit Crew; good to hear that you have reached an agreement and I hope that it meets or exceeds your expectations. Well done boys and girls, you have set an example that unity, participation, and spending time to know your rights is a powerful weapon against corporate tyranny. Next time we are in the bar together, whenever that may be, the round is on me!
Union Goon
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Well said 7700,
There is another round of Kudos that needs to be extended as well... This goes to all the non sked and charter operator pilots out there that refused to fly charters for SPIRIT. Spirit managment thought they would simply be able to charter 30 or so jets on the open market (and they certainly exist out there) to replace the flying.
Only 1 flight was successfully chartered. A falcon air MD80 who's crew is now famous (and not in a good way, search youtube if you like). Managment was unable to contract the lift, and good on every pilot in America working at other airlines that told their own management, not only no but HELL NO!
Cheers
Wino
There is another round of Kudos that needs to be extended as well... This goes to all the non sked and charter operator pilots out there that refused to fly charters for SPIRIT. Spirit managment thought they would simply be able to charter 30 or so jets on the open market (and they certainly exist out there) to replace the flying.
Only 1 flight was successfully chartered. A falcon air MD80 who's crew is now famous (and not in a good way, search youtube if you like). Managment was unable to contract the lift, and good on every pilot in America working at other airlines that told their own management, not only no but HELL NO!
Cheers
Wino
You do not get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate. To be successfull you have to negotiate from a position of strengh. It appears to me that management thought their position of strengh was to lie and obfuscate while threatening job cuts and thus intimidate the pilot group into accepting a substandard contract. The union played to its strengh, union solidarity during a withdrawl of services, an outcome the mangagement was clearly unprepared for.
Seems to me the airline management was thoughly out manoevered. This is not personal it is just business. The scary part is that Spirit mangement has been exposed as incompetant clowns...this does not bode well for the future as competant management is important for the long term success of the airline. Just look at Southwest, IMO the best managed airline in North America if not the world.
Seems to me the airline management was thoughly out manoevered. This is not personal it is just business. The scary part is that Spirit mangement has been exposed as incompetant clowns...this does not bode well for the future as competant management is important for the long term success of the airline. Just look at Southwest, IMO the best managed airline in North America if not the world.
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this does not bode well for the future as competant management is important for the long term success of the airline.
Look for the present management to be replaced, then the ALPO contract will be renegotiated in about twelve months.
No renegotiation?
Fold the airline and assign the certificate to a new entity.
Connie Kaletta did this quite successfully some years ago, leaving the union high and dry.
ALPO guys never learn.....
So far no airline in the history of aviation has cut its way to long term profitabilty. It is easy to cut wages, the hard work is managing the in a system wide and systematic consistant way, the tension between efficency and operational effectiveness and having the vision and intestinal fortitude to spend 1 dollar now to save 10 dollars down the road. Spirit unfortunately IMO is probably a flash in the pan that will eventually sucumb to the failings of its misguided fetish on cost savings at any cost......
The good news is at least in the mean time the pilots will at least have decent terms and conditions.
The good news is at least in the mean time the pilots will at least have decent terms and conditions.