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May 11, 2010 - The
Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), on behalf of Spirit Airlines
pilots, has triggered the start of a 30-day cooling-off period—which
could result in a strike in the near future if no agreement is
reached—by rejecting the National Mediation Board’s (NMB) proffer of
arbitration on Wednesday, May 5. The union now awaits the NMB’s
notification of the day on which the 30-day clock starts and the date
for a possible strike.
“As pilots, we
would rather be in the air than on the picket line. We want a fair
contract—not a strike,” said Captain Sean Creed, head of the Spirit unit
of ALPA. “However, this company has shown time and time again that it
doesn’t feel the need to bargain with us in good faith. We hope that the
added pressure of a strike deadline will help management realize that a
fair and equitable contract is in everyone’s best interest.”
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Spirit pilots have
been in contract negotiations for more than three years, with little or
no progress made during this time. In April 2009, 98 percent of the
pilots voted to give their leadership the power to call a lawful strike
should negotiations continue to stall. During contract talks, the
company repeatedly demanded unwarranted concessions, requesting that the
pilots take substantial cuts in benefits and work rule protection. Yet,
Spirit Airlines continues to expand its operations and make substantial
profits.
On April 6 and 7,
the National Mediation Board (NMB) met with pilot leaders and management
representatives in a last-ditch effort to work out an agreement.
However, by the end of the negotiating sessions, it was obvious the two
sides had reached an impasse, and further meetings would not result in a
contract.
“The pilots of
Spirit Airlines enter this end-game of contract negotiations with the
support of nearly 53,000 union sisters and brothers,” said Capt. John
Prater, president of ALPA. “In addition, our full financial and staff
resources will be available to them until they achieve a new collective
bargaining agreement.”
In accordance with
the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor relations within the airline
and railroad industries, the NMB issued a proffer of binding arbitration
on Monday, May 3. The pilots rejected the proffer two days later to
bring about a final deadline in hopes of producing an agreement. Once
either party rejects the proffer, the NMB notifies the parties of the
start of the 30-day cooling-off period, after which the pilots are able
to lawfully go on strike. |
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