Spirit strike??

[MAH4546]

I don't think you have any idea how pilots are compensated.

I know very well how pilots are compensated, thank you.

They are compensated to terms that the pilots agreed to when they joined the airline.

Now, like little whining brats, they complain they want more. I hope nothing but career misfortune on all pro-actively striking pilots.

 

[Corwin]

I know very well how pilots are compensated, thank you.

Not if you think "pilots are bringing home six figure incomes and making over $120 an hour." The average pilot at Spirit makes much less than that.

Spirit's pilots do earn a good living and are welcome to quit and go to another airline if they have issues with their pay. Shame on the striking pilots - its disgusting and they should feel ashamed.

It's well and good to blithely state that the pilots can just start over at another airline. First off, most airlines are skimping on crews and not hiring. If you do get a job at another carrier, the way the industry is set up, you start off at the bottom at first year pay with no seniority, regardless of one's experience. There's no negotiating and with no seniority, you get the worst routes and are guaranteed to be working on Thanksgiving and Christmas. And as I stated above, starting pay for a pilot at Spirit is a measly $34K/year.

Starting pilot pay at any airline is not that great. So unless an experienced pilot is willing to take a drastic cut in pay (as much as 50-75% in some cases), they can't just "quit and go to another airline." Any pilot who makes a habit of that is not going to make much of a living, assuming they can even get hired at a competitor.

They are compensated to terms that the pilots agreed to when they joined the airline.

Now, like little whining brats, they complain they want more. I hope nothing but career misfortune on all pro-actively striking pilots.

So because they agreed to work there, they are obligated to accept any terms proposed by management for all time?

Last time I checked, we live in a free country. The pilots are free to strike...and the airline is free to fire them all, if they can find replacements, of course.

 

[mickey2000]

I know very well how pilots are compensated, thank you.

They are compensated to terms that the pilots agreed to when they joined the airline.

Now, like little whining brats, they complain they want more. I hope nothing but career misfortune on all pro-actively striking pilots.

You sound like the govenor of New Jersey

 

[jlewisinsyr]

It's well and good to blithely state that the pilots can just start over at another airline. First off, most airlines are skimping on crews and not hiring. If you do get a job at another carrier, the way the industry is set up, you start off at the bottom at first year pay with no seniority, regardless of one's experience. There's no negotiating and with no seniority, you get the worst routes and are guaranteed to be working on Thanksgiving and Christmas. And as I stated above, starting pay for a pilot at Spirit is a measly $34K/year.

Starting pilot pay at any airline is not that great. So unless an experienced pilot is willing to take a drastic cut in pay (as much as 50-75% in some cases), they can't just "quit and go to another airline." Any pilot who makes a habit of that is not going to make much of a living, assuming they can even get hired at a competitor.

I think we all understand that impact of moving jobs has, but people do it all the time. Maybe there is an overcapacity issue with the number of pilots and some of them need to enter a new line of work/field. It's part of the business world, it's part of adapting to change in a world that will not remain static forever. As you point out, getting hired is hard right now at an airline, but it's hard getting hired in a lot of places, not just in the world of pilots.

Last time I checked, we live in a free country. The pilots are free to strike...and the airline is free to fire them all, if they can find replacements, of course.

I do not think anyone is saying the pilots do not have a right to strike or walk out on the job, what is being said is that in many people's opinion they do not have sympathy for the pilots.

 

[pilotwife_02]

$120 and hour? No pilot at Spirit makes that.

And I can tell you my DH has been a pilot at the SAME airline for 10 years and doesn't make close to that (and he's a captain). He will also "work" 15 hour days but only fly for 6-7 so will only get paid for those 6-7 hours. How many of you would like that? (I CAN tell you that he doens't bring home 6 figures if he did I wouldn't have to work).

Most airlines go through YEARS of negotiations before a a union decides to strike, so this isnt something that the pilots of Spirit just decided last week to do. While I know it sucks believe me the pilots and their families aren't taking it lightly. I know if my DH's union ever decided to strike I would be stressed because he wouldn't be bringing home any money, so I know they want this resolved fast. Many times the company is taking advantage of the pilots and breaking the contract and the pilots have no recourse and just suck it up. No, pilots can't just go and quit and find another job at another airline, it doesn't work that way. Pilot jobs are VERY hard to come by, there are many pilots who are still on furlough from 9/11, so pilots shut up and "take it" when their company breaks the contact because they need their job.

It's a last resort and they just want to get paid industry standard. And yes, to go from one airline to another you start at the "bottom" of the seniority list again which means you start at the bottom of PAY scale again. So IF you made X amount AND were a captain at one place and you moved to another airline you would start at the bottom of the seniority would be a First Officer there and would get a huge pay cut (probably making 1/4 of what you were at the other airline). It's just not feasible to just move airlines over and over again. It's the only industry I know of that lateral move isn't so lateral.

 

[princessfionasmom]

I hope for the sake of all involved they reach a contract today. It's just a crappy situation all around.

 

[ibcnu]

Flight Attendants Furloughed as Spirit Strike Enters Day 5

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-...d-as-Spirit-Strike-Enters-Day-5-96461964.html

 

[Corwin]

I think we all understand that impact of moving jobs has, but people do it all the time. Maybe there is an overcapacity issue with the number of pilots and some of them need to enter a new line of work/field. It's part of the business world, it's part of adapting to change in a world that will not remain static forever. As you point out, getting hired is hard right now at an airline, but it's hard getting hired in a lot of places, not just in the world of pilots.

I do not think anyone is saying the pilots do not have a right to strike or walk out on the job, what is being said is that in many people's opinion they do not have sympathy for the pilots.

Well, I have sympathy for them. They're in a very difficult situation due to the nature of the industry.

That being said, you are essentially correct. The fundamental problem is an oversupply of pilots, because there are so many people who love flying, and are willing to work for low pay.

An individual pilot can't do anything about this oversupply, so pilots have banded together into a union, which can lead to situations like the current labor dispute.

As I and pilotwife_02 have stated, a lateral move to another airline is not really an option unless you want to give up niceties like eating and supporting your family.

 

[SHOREDAD]

You sound like the govenor of New Jersey

The difference however is that the governor of NJ wants people to have to work under different rules and agreements than the ones they signed up to work under. He wants to change existing contracts!

 

[chrisd596]

Any update on the meetings being held????

(Didn't want to start this thread relating to the Gov of NJ, I would need a much bigger page to list my thoughts on his thoughtless decisions...good luck to our state when he and the legislators are done "not raising our taxes", but destroying everything else in the meantime.


See, I didn't want to start this, I just want to get to Florida!!!

 

[tazlikesrobots]

I just read that they reached a settlement. Flights to resume on Firday!

Source - http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...airlines-strike-0616-20100615,0,3730759.story

 

[SHOREDAD]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iglNcRUwvDlJfDT51gGN8SkmxOPQD9GCJ0SO0

On Spirit's website is says they will resume operations on Friday June 18th.

 

[Tess]

We saw it online around 4:00 p.m. today. Soon thereafter I was repacking the luggage for air travel rather than car travel. Now to get back to the enjoyment of the anticipation. . .Saturday at 6:00 a.m. will be here soon!

Too funny, just received an e-mail from Spirit with an offer of 5,000 free air miles. Everyone with an account or who applies for an account can get them with separate e-mail addresses. Not that I will ever take advantage of them. . .

 

[buzzmom3]

WooHoo! Now I can pack!

 

[Tess]

WooHoo! Now I can pack!

Yeah and only once!

 

[princessfionasmom]

Yeah!!!!!! Now my MIL can stop freaking out.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm glad...DSis will be coming to meet us on July 1st!

 

[chrisd596]

Ok, my fellow spirit flyers, feeling lucky and appreciative that it is over. Spent hours looking for flying alternatives. On with the trip.

Chris

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

While I feel sorry for those affected by the strike, including a woman who works for me, it's time to celebrate, Spirit will be flying again on Friday!

 

[5boyz]

Woo Hoo!!! Just got home and got the email from Spirit!!! Happy flying everyone!!!! Sorry to those of you who had to make alternate plans and got stuck somewhere!!! Hopefully something good will happen for you!