By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.Com
June 11, 2010
With a pilots' strike looming this weekend, Spirit Airlines has announced it is cancelling some flights ahead of the expected walkout.
"While Spirit is committed to reaching a fair and equitable deal, the company has also developed plans to continue operations and is working with customers whose flights may be affected," the airline said in a statement.
Talks with the Airline Pilots Association are still underway to reach a new contract. While the company says many issues have been resolved, it acknowledges that barriers remain to a new pact that would head off a Saturday strike.
This week ALPA members from other airlines joined Spirit pilots in picketing at some airports. One group marched in two locations in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Due to restrictive rules, the union said only four pilots were allowed to picket on airport property, forcing the rest of the crowd to picket at the airport entrance.
"In both locations, the message was loud and clear: Spirit pilots are unshakably determined to strike if no agreement is reached by June 12," the union said in a statement. And their resolve of 450 pilots is supported by their families, other fellow union employees, and the largest pilots' union in the world, boasting 53,000 airline pilots."
ALPA says little progress seems to have been made, especially on the main sticking points of scheduling and wages. Spirit management has announced at the table that it intends to fly through any work stoppage. ALPA says Spirit will be forced to curtail its flights during a strike because there are few standing agreements with contract operators to pick up the slack.
"This pilot group will not be divided by the scare tactics and false information put forward by management," said Capt. Sean Creed, MEC Chair. "The turnout in Florida says it loud and clear: we cannot be broken and we will not accept less than we deserve."
Spirit said its customer service representatives have begun contacting passengers booked on cancelled flights.
