Will Spirit Survive if they WalK?

[8v8tr]

What are the chances if the pilots walk the company will survive?

Why did the MEC specifically ask for other carriers to pick up there flying if they go out, and this flying would not be considered struck work? Is this not certain death to Spirit? Is this what the pilot group wants or just the MEC?

How many times has ALPA been sucessful in a strike? How many times have they failed?

Flame away, but I think all valid questions and not meant as flame bait.

 

[Blue Dude]

It's only struck work if other carriers fly as Spirit Airlines and give the revenue to Spirit. If other carriers pick up the slack and keep the revenue, it applies enormous economic pressure on Spirit to settle quickly, which is the whole point. The real benefit of such a policy is to show resolve and not *have* to strike.

I have no idea how long Spirit can withstand a strike. I'll bet their BOD does though, and they won't want it to go on for long, or at all.

 

[Flynfish]

It's actually quite brillant. It gives the strike even more leverage. When you leave market share open for the taking, you can kiss it goodbye.

 

[AKAAB]

I know at least one airline in FLL that is adding planes and will be looking for places to send them. For the sake of the pilots, let's hope management realizes the risk they are taking by not resolving this before the walkout begins.

 

[pilotyip]

The good ole days

Back in the old days before de-reg there was a pact called "Mutual Aid". This provided income to airlines that were shut down by employees on strike. If the employees at ABC Airlines went on strike and the load factor on XYZ Air went up, some of the revenue from the increased load factor at XYZ Air flowed back to ABC Airlines. This gave the shut down airline a source of revenue to allow them to let the employees stay out on strike a longer time. It gave a balance to both management and union to reach a reasonable contract. When mutual aid went away, it gave the unions a much stronger hand. The highly leveraged airline could not stay in business with a stop in cash flow for any extended period. This lead to shorter strikes, and contracts company would prefer not to enter. Elimination of this aid may have been good for the employee in the short term, but is has been detrimental to the airline industry in the long run.

 

[ualdriver]

Back in the old days before de-reg there was a pact called "Mutual Aid". This provided income to airlines that were shut down by employees on strike. If the employees at ABC Airlines went on strike and the load factor on XYZ Air went up, some of the revenue from the increased load factor at XYZ Air flowed back to ABC Airlines. This gave the shut down airline a source of revenue to allow them to let the employees stay out on strike a longer time. It gave a balance to both management and union to reach a reasonable contract. When mutual aid went away, it gave the unions a much stronger hand. The highly leveraged airline could not stay in business with a stop in cash flow for any extended period. This lead to shorter strikes, and contracts company would prefer not to enter. Elimination of this aid may have been good for the employee in the short term, but is has been detrimental to the airline industry in the long run.

He11, if that post doesn't show your management slant, I don't know what does. Killing mutual aid was an ALPA success. Mutual aid gave the shut down airline a source of revenue "to allow employees to stay out on strike a longer time.". As if that's a good thing? The RLA is so stacked in management's favor that the only recourse airline pilots have is the threat of a strike. How long has TSA been trying to get a contract, for example? Is that how the RLA should work? Mutual aid was yet ANOTHER tool in management's tool belt to screw over labor. Good thing it's gone.

 

[9rj9]

The owners will settle within days of a strike. Management only does what the big money tells them. No one has planes ready to pick up any significant slack in South Florida, ticket prices might go up on Spirit routes but thats about it.

 

[Skippy]

they wont strike- mgmnt will settle mast minute-- end thread

 

[8v8tr]

All great replies, but no one was able to answer the ALPA history question?

And what happens if MGMT does not settle last minute, or worse yet they lock out the pilots? I know nobody wants that to happen but Spirit is a privately held company and does not have to answer to any shareholders, they can do what they want. I would guess that they are going to have to learn the hard way.

Has ALPA ever gone on strike against a privately held company?

Makes you think.....

 

[Mike man]

Why give up a 107 Million dollar goose?

not have to answer to any shareholders

The investors in Indigo and Oak Tree would be share holders, albeit removed from direct investment--nevertheless share holders.

Also the public who uses Spirit to travel on would be share holders, not directly invested, but they have an interest if Spirit stays in business or closes shop.

Based on past profits, low cost and high load factors how could they possibly spin a press release stating they are closing the doors?

Will they really say the pilots want industry average pay, we can afford it, but just don't want to pay it so we are closing because of the pilots?