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By Daniel Baxter |
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June 1, 2010 - The
Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent
for the 11,500 pilots of American Airlines, expressed support for the
pilots of Spirit Airlines following the recent declaration of an impasse
in contract negotiations with that carrier’s management. “We are well
acquainted with the challenge our Spirit Airlines colleagues face”
“We are well
acquainted with the challenge our Spirit Airlines colleagues face,” said
APA President Captain Lloyd Hill. “They are dealing with a management
team engaged in delay tactics and intent on extracting further employee
concessions, which has unfortunately become a familiar refrain
throughout the airline industry.
“As professional aviators, we cannot permit the industry-wide ‘race to the bottom’ mentality that prevailed during much of the past decade to continue,” he said. |
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“We therefore
pledge our support to the pilots of Spirit Airlines as they attempt
to conclude their contract negotiations amicably and without
inconvenience to the airline’s customers.”
Following its
declaration of a negotiating impasse, the National Mediation Board
released Spirit Airlines’ pilots and management to a 30-day
cooling-off period. During this time, both parties are required to
preserve the status quo, which means that management must maintain
the same wages and working conditions and the pilots must refrain
from any withdrawal of service.
If no agreement is
reached by the end of the 30 days on June 12, the two parties are then
permitted to engage in self-help activities such as the imposition of
new contract conditions by management or a strike by the pilots.
Founded in 1963,
the Allied Pilots Association—the largest independent pilot union in the |
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