98% Spirit Pilots Authorize Strike!

[boomlrd]

Now that's unity!
Almost 98% in favor of Strike
Almost 95% pilot group voting
Only 9 clowns voted against!
Thank you Spirit MEC, great job! This pilot group should be commended for it's steadfast unity against this low brow management. Fellow ALPA members stand tall, this is a good day! Let's continue to fight the good fight! FLY YOUR CONTRACT!

 

[clickclickboom]

If only Jetblue pilots could show even a fraction of that solidarity things would have improved years ago.

Thanks for trying to raise the bar you deserve better ... At least 98% of you do..

 

[B52GUNNER]

Nice job guys. Keep it strong!

 

[Grandpa +65]

If you guys strikes, You guys are welcome in my J/S.

 

[9rj9]

A vote is one thing, actually striking an entire different matter.

 

[vtwo]

CHEST THUMPING.. OHHH AHHHHH,
ask the many ALPA airlines how many will really strike.
it's been a long time since a strike. "let's live to fight another day"
"It is all the company can afford" " at least I have a job"
"we'll get them next time"

bla bla bla . you will never strike, Alpa knows it Management knows it. the whole world knows it. so go ahead and ppat your self on the backs. then Bend over.

 

[Mike man]

CHEST THUMPING.. OHHH AHHHHH,
ask the many ALPA airlines how many will really strike.
it's been a long time since a strike. "let's live to fight another day"
"It is all the company can afford" " at least I have a job"
"we'll get them next time"

bla bla bla . you will never strike, Alpa knows it Management knows it. the whole world knows it. so go ahead and ppat your self on the backs. then Bend over.

Almost 10 years since a strike...it seems like it is about time.

...you will never strike... Maybe your not good with numbers...98% seems pretty good to me, so it seems to me that 9 clowns will not walk of the 368 that voted, who knows where the other 20 have been the last month.

I'm sorry your airline wussed out when it had an opportunity to strike last time.

 

[vtwo]

what I am saying is that the percentage of the strike vote is NICE. it looks good and helps those in the rank and file feel good about moving Fwd with negotiations. BUT and a BIG BUT, Alpa National does not have the Balls to endorse an action, therefore
they will be ever so lightly nudged you in to settling before a strike can take place.
Alpa will use the Lines I have quoted above for the reasons.
Like I said CHEST THUMPING is all it is Management see right through it.
Sorry. I wish it was a real threat taken seriously , but it is not a real threat any more. History has shown that.

 

[boomlrd]

what I am saying is that the percentage of the strike vote is NICE. it looks good and helps those in the rank and file feel good about moving Fwd with negotiations. BUT and a BIG BUT, Alpa National does not have the Balls to endorse an action, therefore
they will be ever so lightly nudged you in to settling before a strike can take place.
Alpa will use the Lines I have quoted above for the reasons.
Like I said CHEST THUMPING is all it is Management see right through it.
Sorry. I wish it was a real threat taken seriously , but it is not a real threat any more. History has shown that.

I have to say that in my opinion you are wrong about the pilots at Spirit. The motivation is there to strike if needed, and I believe if it comes down to it, we will walk. Take a look at the vote results, can you name an airline that has had that high of a turnout as well as one strong voice? Look back at airlines that have had to actually strike in the past, the vote was never that strong. I can only guess you do not work here, because if you did you would see that at least the bottom half has become enraged and is ready to show management our resolve. I know a lot of captains feel the same way, but most of us are ready. Spirit is not a large airline, it will not take a lot of us to slow things down or shut it down. I hope it will not come to this, but trust me, management's complete disregard for us has gone on long enough and now it is time for them to show us the money.

 

[Chief Pilot]

what I am saying is that the percentage of the strike vote is NICE. it looks good and helps those in the rank and file feel good about moving Fwd with negotiations. BUT and a BIG BUT, Alpa National does not have the Balls to endorse an action, therefore
they will be ever so lightly nudged you in to settling before a strike can take place.
Alpa will use the Lines I have quoted above for the reasons.
Like I said CHEST THUMPING is all it is Management see right through it.
Sorry. I wish it was a real threat taken seriously , but it is not a real threat any more. History has shown that.

First off:

Good job Spirit guys and gals. Awesome show of unity!

Secondly:
vtwo, your reasoning is flawed about ALPA not having the "Balls" to endorse an action. You probably don't realize what a badge of honor it is for ALPA officers to wear their strike pins. There are two groups: those with a strike pin and those without. Also, you cannot gain a senior level position within ALPA National without a strike pin. One thing that ALPA National does have is a team of lawyers and industry analysts that can help determine whether or not management is bargaining in good faith. If it is determined that they are not, ALPA National will not discourage a legal strike. It is in their best interest to gain as much for their members as possible.

Congrats to the Spirit folks for giving their negotiating team some much needed leverage.

 

[SEVEN]

A vote in favor of a strike is one thing. Actually shutting down and airline with an actual stirike is a whole different ball game. Spirit Airlines won't be striking anytime soon.

 

[Mike man]

Spirit Airlines won't be striking anytime soon.

The Mediator has already expressed his displeasure with the tactics of our management and stated that he has no problem releasing us for a strike...negotiations resume next week, we shall see what happens. I guess the cooling off period could start as early as the end of next week.

 

[vtwo]

I agree with one thing, If Spirit Pilots do strike, I really hope they get what they want.
Are they willing to walk away from their job? for good?
That is the decision you have to make when and IF you do strike, As NWA,
My father worked NWA 1969 until 2003. Lost around 3 years seniority in strike time.
Things were different then, unity, meant doing what you had to do. Not playing by the rules.
EXAMPLES..
Scab Lists, Management intimidation, Picket lines that shut the entire airport down for Hours. Fist fights at picket lines. Phone calls in the middle of the night, Picketlines with 10 times the number of people permitted by the local law, ect....)Now the rules are against labor. Mec's need to enforce a contract, with force sometimes, not always through arbitration many years after the fact. Some times a wild cat stike is needed to put management on their heals and take notice.
If a few Mec's go to Jail for a bit for "illeagal job action, so what, that Damage has been done. Just like when a company say's fly and greive later.

I guess what I am saying is I have seen the "chest thumping" in the past, but it fizzles real fast when the reality of losing your seniority, job, and life style.
I really hope it works out for labor...
I have been through this phase numerous times in the end it just seems like Noise.


Good luck, Someone needs to take a stand.
I think the last ones that really did were the NWA FA's a few years back.

Cheers

 

[SEVEN]

Good luck, Someone needs to take a stand.
I think the last ones that really did were the NWA FA's a few years back.

The NWA Mechanics also took a hard stand against management. Things didn't turn out so well for those guys though. Scabs were bussed in to take over. Union's are not immune against union busting. Hopefully the Spirit pilots are well aware of the consequences. Management and their high priced lawers are planning "war games" as we speak. This game ain't checkers, it's chess. Think very hard before you move your pieces. Every move has life-altering impacts.

 

[PCL_128]

You probably don't realize what a badge of honor it is for ALPA officers to wear their strike pins. There are two groups: those with a strike pin and those without. Also, you cannot gain a senior level position within ALPA National without a strike pin.

While it's certainly true that former strikers wear their battle star pins with pride, it's not true at all that you need one to get elected to a top position. The VP-Admin, basically the #3 guy in ALPA, doesn't have a battle star pin. I think there is only 1 EVP left that has one.

 

[milky]

What are you trying to gain from the strike?

 

[flyboycmsu]

Seriously?

 

[Gearthrower]

The NWA Mechanics also took a hard stand against management. Things didn't turn out so well for those guys though. Scabs were bussed in to take over. Union's are not immune against union busting. Hopefully the Spirit pilots are well aware of the consequences. Management and their high priced lawers are planning "war games" as we speak. This game ain't checkers, it's chess. Think very hard before you move your pieces. Every move has life-altering impacts.

True Northwest did bust the Mechanics, but they had about a year to train their replacements in PHX before the they went on strike (NW also stiffed the hotels they used to accomodate these scabs when they filed for Bankruptcy). Add to this the rift that developed between the AFL-CIO and several other unions that broke away that July AMFA being one of them. This created the perfect storm, because ALPA being associated with the AFL-CIO didn't want to support another union that had just split for fear this would cause more member unions to split. I certainly do not support this move an think it is political BS in it purest form. Nonetheless, this is the reason the Mechanics where busted at Northwest. A perfect storm of events where ultimately the workers got screwed. I remember all this well sitting reserve in DTW and hearing it on the news and jumpseating to an from work.

 

[SEVEN]

True Northwest did bust the Mechanics, but they had about a year to train their replacements in PHX before the they went on strike (NW also stiffed the hotels they used to accomodate these scabs when they filed for Bankruptcy). Add to this the rift that developed between the AFL-CIO and several other unions that broke away that July AMFA being one of them. This created the perfect storm, because ALPA being associated with the AFL-CIO didn't want to support another union that had just split for fear this would cause more member unions to split. I certainly do not support this move an think it is political BS in it purest form. Nonetheless, this is the reason the Mechanics where busted at Northwest. A perfect storm of events where ultimately the workers got screwed. I remember all this well sitting reserve in DTW and hearing it on the news and jumpseating to an from work.

Given the current situation with the economy/industry right now, I think more harm than good will come from a Spirit strike. They know that and will not strike. When and if the time comes, and the clock strikes midnight, last minute deals will be cut. However, I don't think it will even get that far.

 

[BLUE BAYOU]

Don't worry guys, the Obama administration will not allow Spirit pilots to strike.