Spirit - IT'S ON !

[Whine Lover]

By DOUG CAMERON - WSJ

Pilots at Spirit Airlines Inc. on Saturday launched a strike after the failure of last-minute talks to defuse a dispute that already had grounded some flights, according to union representatives.
Flight crew at the low-cost U.S. carrier started the indefinite action after twice extending a deadline during overnight talks, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, International.
The Florida airline already had canceled some weekend flights in anticipation of industrial action, while talks continued to avert the first strike at a U.S. carrier in five years.
"Immediately after 5 a.m., the Spirit Pilot Master Executive Council, as authorized by our pilots, called for and instituted a lawful strike against our management," said a statement from Capt. Sean Creed, head of the Spirit unit of ALPA. The union said the flight crew "will not return to the cockpit until a fair and equitable contract is negotiated."
Spirit offered no immediate comment.

 

[Erlanger]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/06/12/airline.strike/index.html?hpt=T3

 

[Headfake14]

Wow. I'm still partly surprised it actaully went this far.

Good luck guys.

You are still welcome on JB flights...as far as I heard. CASS should still be good too.

 

[Whine Lover]

Good Luck Guys. It's nice to see people stand up for themselves. I predict this will be short lived, so hang in there...



Talking Heads - Burning Down The House

Watch out ( Benny ) you might get what you're after
Cool baby strange but not a stranger
I'm an ordinary guy
Burning down the house

Hold tight wait 'til the party's over
Hold tight we're in for nasty weather
There has got to be a way
Burning down the house

Here's your ticket pack your bag; time for jumpin' overboard
Transportation is here
Close enough but not too far, maybe you know where you are
Fightin' fire with fire

All wet yeah you might need a raincoat
Shakedown thieves walking in broad daylight
Three hundred sixty five degrees
Burning down the house

It was once upon a place sometimes I listen to myself
Gonna come in first place
People on their way to work say baby what did you expect
Gonna burst into flame

My house is out of the ordinary
That's right Don't want to hurt nobody
Some things sure can sweep me off my feet
Burning down the house

No visible means of support and you have not seen nothing yet
Everything's stuck together
I don't know what you expect staring into the TV set
Fighting fire with fire

Burning down the house

 

[goahead]

Great job, you're welcome to my jumpseat

 

[Newjetjockey]

Dirtbag AirTran management has rescinded the reciprocal jumpseat agreement with Spirit pilots. AirTran ALPA has preemptively set up a buddy pass donation program where Spirit pilots can ride on our planes using employee buddy passes. If any Spirit pilots are stuck and need to fly on AirTran call our Jumpseat chairmen.

Chris Deimler, Chairman
ATN MEC JSC
[email protected]
636.288.6529

Andrew Oliphant, Vice Chairman
ATN MEC JSC Vice-Chair
[email protected]
703.203.9754

Mark Orzell
ATN MEC JSC member
[email protected]

 

[Whine Lover]

,,,,,,,,,

 

[9rj9]

Airtran knows its next

 

[ceo_of_the_sofa]

Believe it or not, but Republic is extending CASS to Spirit pilots...

Good luck guys, hopefuly RAH isn't too far behind.

 

[livintheredream]

F'n Airtran MGT. Dont they know that throwing Gas on a fire makes it spread? Its got to be getting hot in MCO. I donated a pass and hope this is resolved soon.

 

[j41driver]

There have been over 100 AirTran buddy passes donated if they are needed...please...if a Spirit guy needs a ride on us call one of our JSC guys on the numbers above.

 

[bravodude]

Is there a strike fund set up for donations.

 

[UAL-GSO]

Good luck guys and gals - stick it to 'em!

 

[FNG320]

The word at JetBlue is that Spirit pilots will be allowed to exercise jumpseat travel for at least 30 days. After that time will tell. If Spirit management takes the Spirit pilots out of CASS, then they will still be allowed to travel in the cabin seats/cabin jumpseats. If JetBlue decides to stop it, expect a buddy pass setup similar to AirTran to be set up.

Good luck to the Spirit pilots!!!!

Just my opinion......

FNG

 

[j41driver]

There have been over 100 AirTran buddy passes donated if they are needed...please...if a Spirit guy needs a ride on us call one of our JSC guys on the numbers above.

One addition...if you're going to use a buddy pass put your Spirit ID away and use your Gov't issued ID instead. Gate agents have been notified to not let Spirit pilots on even with buddy passes. I hate this f'n place.

Keep up the fight guys!

 

[FlyinPiker]

Spirit Airlines Update on ALPA Negotiations: Pilots Turn Down 30% Increase over Five Years And A $3,000 Signing Bonus Per Pilot At An Increased Cost of Over $70M USD



Press Release Source: Spirit Airlines On Saturday June 12, 2010, 7:26 am EDT
MIRAMAR, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spirit Airlines with the help of the National Mediation Board worked tirelessly through the night until 5:00 am to reach a fair and equitable agreement with its pilot union.

***Spirit offered over 30 percent pay increases totaling $70 million over five years, net of productivity improvements.

***At the same time, the pilots would have retained a four-day off break between each and every trip, a feature not found in any other ALPA contract.

***In addition, under the offer each pilot would have received a $3,000 signing bonus.

***The pilots would also receive an eight percent 401-K match in years one through three with an increase to nine percent in year four, while all other Spirit employees only receive a three percent match.

“We are frustrated and disappointed that our pilots have turned down an over 30 percent increase at a cost of over $70 million over five years while disrupting thousands of our customers and jeopardizing the livelihoods of our over 2,000 employees,” said Spirit Airlines President and CEO Ben Baldanza.
As a result of the pilots’ decision to strike, Spirit Airlines flights are cancelled for Saturday, June 12, 2010.
For those customers whose flights are cancelled, Spirit is processing a credit for the full amount of the flight, as well as providing a $100 future flight credit.
Customers who made their reservation prior to May 11, 2010 directly with Spirit and purchased travel insurance should call Travel Guard at 866-877-3191 if their flight has been cancelled.

I see this was put out by Management ( cue the violin ) I'm sure this deal was not as sweet as it sounds.

 

[Mike man]

Spirit Airlines Update on ALPA Negotiations: Pilots Turn Down 30% Increase over Five Years And A $3,000 Signing Bonus Per Pilot At An Increased Cost of Over $70M USD



Press Release Source: Spirit Airlines On Saturday June 12, 2010, 7:26 am EDT
MIRAMAR, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spirit Airlines with the help of the National Mediation Board worked tirelessly through the night until 5:00 am to reach a fair and equitable agreement with its pilot union.

***Spirit offered over 30 percent pay increases totaling $70 million over five years, net of productivity improvements.

***At the same time, the pilots would have retained a four-day off break between each and every trip, a feature not found in any other ALPA contract.

***In addition, under the offer each pilot would have received a $3,000 signing bonus.

***The pilots would also receive an eight percent 401-K match in years one through three with an increase to nine percent in year four, while all other Spirit employees only receive a three percent match.

“We are frustrated and disappointed that our pilots have turned down an over 30 percent increase at a cost of over $70 million over five years while disrupting thousands of our customers and jeopardizing the livelihoods of our over 2,000 employees,” said Spirit Airlines President and CEO Ben Baldanza.
As a result of the pilots’ decision to strike, Spirit Airlines flights are cancelled for Saturday, June 12, 2010.
For those customers whose flights are cancelled, Spirit is processing a credit for the full amount of the flight, as well as providing a $100 future flight credit.
Customers who made their reservation prior to May 11, 2010 directly with Spirit and purchased travel insurance should call Travel Guard at 866-877-3191 if their flight has been cancelled.

I see this was put out by Management ( cue the violin ) I'm sure this deal was not as sweet as it sounds.

That is a crappy deal...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100612/...irlines_pilots
Quote:
The company said it offered to raise by 30 percent over five years. It would have included work rule changes but would have retained a four-day break between every pilot trip, something the company said no other contract has. The offer also included a $3,000 signing bonus and a larger retirement plan match.
So 30%...ok lets figure this one out Ben:

4 years to negotiate a contract
5 year contract
4 years to negotiate a new contract after the 5 year one
--
13 YEARS

30% / 13 = 2.3%

The historic inflation average is 3.42% from 1913-present, granted it was 2.7% from 2000-2009...so Ben, what you are saying is you are offering a NEGATIVE .4% raise? Get bent!

 

[ACL65PILOT]

30% still does not get their FO's to industry average.

 

[Mike man]

One addition...if you're going to use a buddy pass put your Spirit ID away and use your Gov't issued ID instead. Gate agents have been notified to not let Spirit pilots on even with buddy passes. I hate this f'n place.

Keep up the fight guys!

ALAP lawsuit...maybe not...airtran management = ****************************** bags, YES!

 

[FlyinPiker]

I guess I should clarify.

As sweet as it sounds to "Joe Public", the intended target of the release.


#@$@#@$ greedy pilots. (roll eyes)

 

[StaySeated]

Jumpseat and CASS still available on Frontier for all Spirit pilots.

Good Luck Gentlemen.

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Good Luck Spirit.....

AND Airtran......They know you guys will be next! Fornaro/Baldanza=amateurs.

 

[zawillif]

Airtran knows its next

What's the word Airtran guys getting released?

 

[Lear70]

Dirtbag AirTran management has rescinded the reciprocal jumpseat agreement with Spirit pilots.

After how management has treated its own employees over the last 3 years (5 contract hostages, suspending a Reserve pilot a few weeks before he deployed for wearing his PARTIAL uniform to drop his kids off at the circus (an SPSC event) ON his way in to work, suspending the entire MEC for authorizing the pilots to wear their uniforms while picketing, etc, etc), this *surprises* you?

AirTran has a great pilot group to work with. Management? Not so much. There needs to be a complete house cleaning of upper management. This is clearly a shot across the bow for our own upcoming Strike. I'm glad we saw this coming and our J/S Committee and the MEC put the buddy pass donation program into effect. Just don't show your Spirit I.D. to an AirTran gate agent, or any other employee except a pilot, they've been instructed to deny boarding even to buddy pass holders if you work for Spirit...

Every one of us owes you Spirit pilots a debt of gratitude for standing strong to start the fight to regain what we've lose the last decade. Best of luck, and God bless!

 

[Lear70]

What's the word Airtran guys getting released?

We haven't made the request yet. Probably sometime towards the end of next month to start the 30 day clock.

J41 beat me to the punch to let Spirit pilots know to keep their I.D. tucked away when riding on an AAI buddy pass...

Hope this will be short-lived for the Spirit pilots and management will put out some realistic increases for you...

 

[BeachBumz]

Good Luck Spirit Pilots!

Even though we are not walking in your shoes, every airline pilot understands your fight. There will be many to help give to your cause. Hold the line and stay strong.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

DAL management has told DALPA that they will allow the Spirit pilots to use their jumpseat privileges while on strike. It sounded like CASS will be operational as well.

 

[troll565]

To any Falcon Air pilots: Don't do it!!

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NKS2098/history/20100612/1626Z/KFLL/MYSM

 

[27 driver]

Can anyone guess what will happen to Airtran's pilot jumpseat agreements the second we go on strike. Hope we are all near our homes if and when we walk. This sucks.

 

[Eagle757shark]

To any Falcon Air pilots: Don't do it!!

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NKS2098/history/20100612/1626Z/KFLL/MYSM

Troll565 what do you know? Please explain. Everyone would like to know more about your comments above. Are you saying that Falcon Air pilots are planning to fly Spirit work? Again please clarify your comments.