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http://www.freep.com/money/business/spirit13e_20050813.htm
AVIATION LABOR: Spirit's pilots have OT issues
August 13, 2005
BY JEWEL GOPWANI
[font=helvetica,arial]FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER[/font]
The pilots union at Spirit Airlines Inc. said Friday the airline is short-staffed and has been forcing pilots to work on their days off without appropriate pay.
Five leaders of the union offered a vote of no confidence in Spirit's management, saying the company has treated pilots unfairly, and in some instances violates terms of the contract. In essence, the union contends the airline should be recalling laid-off pilots instead of requiring overtime for active pilots.
A spokeswoman for Miramar, Fla.-based Spirit Airlines said it was unable to respond to the union's claims late Friday.
Since the airline furloughed 15 pilots in May, the airline has asked pilots to work on their days off, said Mike OConnell, communications chairman for Spirit's pilots union.
Specifically, OConnell said, airline management has been calling pilots between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. for overtime on their days off, which violates its contract.
"They wouldn't be needing to call us if the furloughs were back," OConnell, said.
The union contends that Spirit hasn't been paying its pilots the appropriate compensation for the extra hours, OConnell said. He also said pilots have filed grievances for other issues regarding pay.
"All we want is the company to abide by what it said it would do when it signed the contract," OConnell said.
The union concerns come at a time when Spirit -- Detroit Metro Airport's second-largest carrier behind Northwest Airlines -- has had a string of good news.
Last month, the company announced a new $100-million investment from its majority owner Los Angeles-based Oaktree Capital Management LLC and New York-based minority partner Goldman Sachs Credit Partners LP.
The money will help Spirit acquire 35 new Airbus planes to replace its aging fleet and transform its image in the industry into a modern low-cost carrier.
Contact JEWEL GOPWANI at 313-223-4550 or [email protected].
AVIATION LABOR: Spirit's pilots have OT issues
August 13, 2005
BY JEWEL GOPWANI
[font=helvetica,arial]FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER[/font]
The pilots union at Spirit Airlines Inc. said Friday the airline is short-staffed and has been forcing pilots to work on their days off without appropriate pay.
Five leaders of the union offered a vote of no confidence in Spirit's management, saying the company has treated pilots unfairly, and in some instances violates terms of the contract. In essence, the union contends the airline should be recalling laid-off pilots instead of requiring overtime for active pilots.
A spokeswoman for Miramar, Fla.-based Spirit Airlines said it was unable to respond to the union's claims late Friday.
Since the airline furloughed 15 pilots in May, the airline has asked pilots to work on their days off, said Mike OConnell, communications chairman for Spirit's pilots union.
Specifically, OConnell said, airline management has been calling pilots between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. for overtime on their days off, which violates its contract.
"They wouldn't be needing to call us if the furloughs were back," OConnell, said.
The union contends that Spirit hasn't been paying its pilots the appropriate compensation for the extra hours, OConnell said. He also said pilots have filed grievances for other issues regarding pay.
"All we want is the company to abide by what it said it would do when it signed the contract," OConnell said.
The union concerns come at a time when Spirit -- Detroit Metro Airport's second-largest carrier behind Northwest Airlines -- has had a string of good news.
Last month, the company announced a new $100-million investment from its majority owner Los Angeles-based Oaktree Capital Management LLC and New York-based minority partner Goldman Sachs Credit Partners LP.
The money will help Spirit acquire 35 new Airbus planes to replace its aging fleet and transform its image in the industry into a modern low-cost carrier.
Contact JEWEL GOPWANI at 313-223-4550 or [email protected].