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Spirit Airlines raises the stakes in pilot dispute
Discount carrier says it could shut South Florida operations if union strikes
By Arlene Satchell, Sun Sentinel
6:58 p.m. EDT, May 17, 2010
Miramar-based Spirit Airlines told state and county officials last week that it could cut 1,583 jobs and shut down operations in Broward County if members of the Air Line Pilots Association go on strike.
In two separate notices, the low-cost carrier said that "in the (unlikely) event of an ALPA strike Spirit may close its operations," in Miramar and at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport effective June 12 or shortly thereafter.
"The closure would be permanent and affect our entire operations," it said in the state notices.
The job cuts would affect 306 headquarters employees in Miramar and another 1,277 at its airport facilities, according to the May 12 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notices.
The cuts would amount to 69 percent of the airline's workforce.
The layoff warnings, which Spirit termed "contingent," come days after the National Mediation Board declared labor negotiations at an impasse, releasing the parties from mediation and into a 30-day cooling-off period from May 12 to June 12.
Contract negotiations between Spirit and its roughly 500 pilots members of ALPA hit a wall last week after nearly three years of failed talks.
On Monday, Capt. Sean Creed, head of the Spirit ALPA unit, said the pilots' union was still "open to negotiation" but was "preparing for a potential strike."
"If we don't get a fair contract, we'll definitely strike," Creed said. "I can't force them [Spirit] to come to the table the ball's in their court."
Labor disputes are frequently settled during the 30-day cooling off period required by the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor relations at airlines and railroads.
In recent wrangling, the pilots' union has asked for a $30 million commitment to boost salaries and benefits, an investment that it says would be comparable to what other discount carriers are doling out. Spirit in turn has asked for $12 million in pilot concessions for pay and other work-related efficiencies over a five or six-year contract term, Creed told the Sun Sentinel last week.
Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson declined further comment Monday.
In a statement last week, the carrier said that it was committed to working with ALPA and intended "to reach an agreement that effectively ensures long-term stability and growth of the company."
Still, Spirit appears to be readying for the worst.
Should the strike occur and no other alternative is found, the discount carrier's decision to close operations June 12 or shortly thereafter would likely affect air travel through Fort Lauderdale.
Spirit is the top carrier with about 18 percent of all passengers. It employs about 2,300 workers, Pinson said.
"There's a lot at stake here. It [a strike] would clearly have an impact," airport spokesman Greg Meyer said Monday.
Meyer said airport contingencies were in place to help displaced passengers in the event of a strike or disrupted air service. He also said there were designated areas for picketing at the airport should the pilots opt to do so.
"We're hopeful there'll be a settlement before June 12," Meyer said.
Discount carrier says it could shut South Florida operations if union strikes
By Arlene Satchell, Sun Sentinel
6:58 p.m. EDT, May 17, 2010
Miramar-based Spirit Airlines told state and county officials last week that it could cut 1,583 jobs and shut down operations in Broward County if members of the Air Line Pilots Association go on strike.
In two separate notices, the low-cost carrier said that "in the (unlikely) event of an ALPA strike Spirit may close its operations," in Miramar and at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport effective June 12 or shortly thereafter.
"The closure would be permanent and affect our entire operations," it said in the state notices.
The job cuts would affect 306 headquarters employees in Miramar and another 1,277 at its airport facilities, according to the May 12 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notices.
The cuts would amount to 69 percent of the airline's workforce.
The layoff warnings, which Spirit termed "contingent," come days after the National Mediation Board declared labor negotiations at an impasse, releasing the parties from mediation and into a 30-day cooling-off period from May 12 to June 12.
Contract negotiations between Spirit and its roughly 500 pilots members of ALPA hit a wall last week after nearly three years of failed talks.
On Monday, Capt. Sean Creed, head of the Spirit ALPA unit, said the pilots' union was still "open to negotiation" but was "preparing for a potential strike."
"If we don't get a fair contract, we'll definitely strike," Creed said. "I can't force them [Spirit] to come to the table the ball's in their court."
Labor disputes are frequently settled during the 30-day cooling off period required by the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor relations at airlines and railroads.
In recent wrangling, the pilots' union has asked for a $30 million commitment to boost salaries and benefits, an investment that it says would be comparable to what other discount carriers are doling out. Spirit in turn has asked for $12 million in pilot concessions for pay and other work-related efficiencies over a five or six-year contract term, Creed told the Sun Sentinel last week.
Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson declined further comment Monday.
In a statement last week, the carrier said that it was committed to working with ALPA and intended "to reach an agreement that effectively ensures long-term stability and growth of the company."
Still, Spirit appears to be readying for the worst.
Should the strike occur and no other alternative is found, the discount carrier's decision to close operations June 12 or shortly thereafter would likely affect air travel through Fort Lauderdale.
Spirit is the top carrier with about 18 percent of all passengers. It employs about 2,300 workers, Pinson said.
"There's a lot at stake here. It [a strike] would clearly have an impact," airport spokesman Greg Meyer said Monday.
Meyer said airport contingencies were in place to help displaced passengers in the event of a strike or disrupted air service. He also said there were designated areas for picketing at the airport should the pilots opt to do so.
"We're hopeful there'll be a settlement before June 12," Meyer said.
Maybe Spirit will keep the $9 fare but charge customers $100/year for access to those fares.
