Spirit TA

[Shrek]

Just listened to the union phone call

According to the ALPA lawyer, the NMB member (Linda Puchala) was the person who helped put this deal together and gave each party what she considered a fair contract. Linda is a previous Union president and was one of the members on the NMB who voted to release Spirit into self help. She is currently labor friendly. http://www.nmb.gov/directory/dirboard.html

Even though we are in self help, it would only take one phone call from Linda to convince Obama to establish a Presidential Emergency Board which would stop us from striking (she was appointed by Obama). If we vote this TA down, it is possible we would be stopped from going on strike a second time. According to the ALPA lawyer, we might end up fighting for our contract in a court and it is possible a court would give us a worse contract due to the costs the company incurred from us going on strike.

In my opinion, ALPA national wants us to vote yes for this contract because they consider it a fair contract and it met all of their goals. More importantly, ALPA national doesn't want to lose favor with the NMB to release other ALPA airlines into self-help in the near future.

It is simple - if YOU think it is a fair TA vote for it.............if not don't. Spirit pilots control Spirit ALPA issues. If the pilots were worried about ifs then you would not of struck in the first place. Ben and and his pals could have shut the doors for good.

That didn't happen so......

 

[Beetle007]

It is simple - if YOU think it is a fair TA vote for it.............if not don't.

I don't like any form of direct democracy. I like electing leaders who make informed and educated decisions.

 

[pilotyip]

At Zantop they got a union in by one vote. There 67 happy pilots and 66 unhappy pilots, a year later we were out of business and had 150 unhappy pilots. Majority rules, not happiness

 

[27 driver]

If Spirit can't treat their employees decently and pay them a fair wage then they shouldn't exist. Ask big Ben if he is fairly compensated. Who decides what fair is......well that is simple. Spirit employees. If they vote the TA in then the majority is satisfied. If not then time will tell. Good luck either way.

 

[bottomfeeder]

What kind of stock option plan did you guys get in the TA?

 

[ultrarunner]

What kind of stock option plan did you guys get in the TA?

Hey bottomfeeder, Spirit is privately held. It's possible they might have a phantom-stock program set up that provides for 'phantom stock options'. However, those are non-conventional programs, and differ slightly from stock-option grants from companies who's stock is traded publicly.

Ultra

 

[bottomfeeder]

Hey bottomfeeder, Spirit is privately held. It's possible they might have a phantom-stock program set up that provides for 'phantom stock options'. However, those are non-conventional programs, and differ slightly from stock-option grants from companies who's stock is traded publicly.

Ultra

Yes, I understand that, but when they go public later this year, do you all have an option set up?

 

[ultrarunner]

Yes, I understand that, but when they go public later this year, do you all have an option set up?

It doesn't work that way. I mean, you can't grant an option to purchase a share of stock for a stock that does not yet exist. Since the grant award must contain a strike-price as well as a vesting schedule.

Now, you could attempt to convince the company to agree to 'award X number of shares of stock' to an employee at the time the company goes public, but that's about it.

Good luck with that one!

 

[boomlrd]

I will vote no! Pilots get 15% across the board pay increases from this TA and 10% of any IPO to be divided up by longevity. No healthcare increases, and lock in the scope! Then I will vote yes. Oh yea, retro!!

 

[scarlet]

Anything in there about 3-5% raise after the contract is admenable? To encourage them to settle the next contract? These companies are getting 10 years or more out of one contract. Needs to be something stating in the event the next contract is not signed into effect by 12 months after the admendable date then the pilots automatically get a 3-5% pay increase every year, until settled.??????

The retro was a joke....150% lose of open time, with the pay raise, you getting the same money you get now?????

 

[CosmoKramer]

Anything in there about 3-5% raise after the contract is admenable? To encourage them to settle the next contract? These companies are getting 10 years or more out of one contract. Needs to be something stating in the event the next contract is not signed into effect by 12 months after the admendable date then the pilots automatically get a 3-5% pay increase every year, until settled.??????

The retro was a joke....150% lose of open time, with the pay raise, you getting the same money you get now?????

No, none of that.....can you believe that....we didn't learn anything from the last 4 years. It's sad, but many people are for this thing....management is laughing at us...Hopefully 50% plus 1 of us have the ability to look at this ta without fear and see how bad it is...

 

[bubbers44]

Bet this passes by at least 65 to 35%. The pay scale increases through the span of the contract will put their senior captains to present senior major airline pay. The FO's will do likewise with present FO's with majors flying equal equipment. Especially 12 year FO's with majors wishing they had gone to Spirit to be a captain now with much better earning power than where they are now. Take a long look at this before you vote no. A few on this thread are dominating the "Vote No" agenda. I think the majority think differently. You have better work rules than most major's. That is always factored in to the total cost of pilots. Be smart!

I always have fought management when it warranted a fight. Pick your fights carefully.

 

[CosmoKramer]

yeh, pay is just one thing, but we have others that are bad....

-schedules upto 90 hours.
-reserve system that is "slick" for the company...there will be downgrades...
-no stock options WHEN IPO happens. That's gonna sting...
-no retroactive pay for 42 months of no raises.
-huge increases in PPO health plans.
-loss of our time and half for working on days off.
-monthly bid transitions changed to benefit company.

We gave so much, but got so little....very sad....hopefully 50% plus 1 will see this thing for what it is and vote NO...

 

[boomlrd]

Bubbers = MEC, VOTE NO!

 

[bubbers44]

Bubbers = MEC, VOTE NO!

I guess that means I am part of the MEC which I am not. I just have friends at my major airline that have 12 years and are FO's wishing they had gone to spirit. If you turn this down they may sweeten the offer so give it a shot. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. Bubbers

 

[Mike man]

I thought the mods said no posting of loads on FI...why is this load of poop TA on here?

 

[CosmoKramer]

You have better work rules than most major's

What specific work rules are better than your airline?

 

[bubbers44]

Four days off between flight groupings, one calendar day off per week at domicile, not 24hrs which could be in Kingston for us, better overtime pay.

 

[CosmoKramer]

Four days off between flight groupings, one calendar day off per week at domicile, not 24hrs which could be in Kingston for us, better overtime pay.

Well, first off, the 4 days off between pairings has been used as an excuse to not get paid industry standard wages. It is complete BullSh-t!!!! It does not cost the company anything, if you think differently, you have been brainwashed. Show me on paper where it costs more...It's not like the lines are built to 20 hours below guarantee in order to accommodate the 4 days off.

I won't address the "one calendar day off per week in domicile" as a benefit, because I can't write and laugh at the same time.

and finally, the overtime pay will be gone if the TA passes...all work on days off will be at straight time.

In fact this TA allows for lines to built to 90 hours. That is the plan in order to need less pilots. Everyone will be working a lot more including reserves, due to the new reserve system that can slide your reserve time on a daily basis.

This place has schedules that have day trips and redyes in the same 6 day period. I have done these. These are the absolute worst abuse I have ever seen. It is all legal because they give minimum FAA rest and it doesn't violate the contract. You try working 4 day turns followed by 2 redeyes.

 

[bubbers44]

CK, I think if the TA said you only had to work one day a week, you would say, yea but which day.