That sounds a little bit more like it would be legally binding. I know at least the first few classes who signed it were not provided it beforehand. If it went like you say, I would definitely assume it is enforceable.

 

What's the current outlook on negotiations. What is a reasonable guess on time till new contract. Is the company trying at all, or typical dragging of feet.

Thanks for the info, you guys have been super helpful in my deliberation of carriers.

 

This is the way that I understand it. I could be wrong and if so hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Meetings are scheduled for this week. The company has no interest in getting a new contract. To say that they are dragging their feet would be a huge understatement. Why would they want to fork out more money? They absolutely hate employees in every sense of the imagination. I would be shocked if we get a new contract in 2017, and am doubtful about 2018. It just depends on when and if the NMB will allow us to strike.

Keep in mind with a new administration comes new NMB members. So they can keep everything status quo, or they can replace all the mediators. We could press on like nothing happened, or we could end up with a totally new mediator that wants to start from the beginning. That would obviously add a lengthy amount of time to negotiations. But there are so many variables, that no one has a clue as to how it's going to go down. Either way, it won't be quick.

I'd go elsewhere if I were you. Nothing is going to change anytime soon.

 

Regarding the incompetence that is our gate agents....

I've now had my third experience of them clearing stand bys out of order. I don't believe its calculated, but stems from lack of training and airline experience in general. The fact that they don't have flight benefits, therefore don't understand the "game" can't help.

Any advice on how to deal with this? I stood and watched a buddy pass rider get cleared for a seat while a sixteen year flight attendant stood there arguing with the gate agent. "He's first on my list" was the only reasoning afent could come up with. Sure enough, the buddy pass rider got the seat. He got an isle, me, the dead header, got sandwiched in a middle, but I digress.

We used to have acces to the list and seat assignments on the frontier flight status page, but I don't see that anymore. Anyhow, just curious what others have run into and done that we can all learn from.

 

Not going to say you're wrong...but that could change drastically if Indigo gets to the point they REALLY want to sell. They might find buyers don't want to inherit labor struggle and not know the real operating expenses post-contract.

 

I don't know man. Anyone interested in buying us can see worse case scenario for them and what the costs will be. Why not buy us now and have us for cheap until it's time for a new contract. They could get two years out of us being the lowest paid bus drivers in the industry and continue to laugh all the way to the bank with the ridiculous duration of this LOA.

What's not to like (for them)? Frankly I don't think it makes one iota of difference if we have a contract or not.

That being said. I am certainly no business expert and could be 100% wrong. It sure as hell wouldn't be the first time.

 

When did or when does this current contract expire?

 

The contract doesn't expire, it becomes amendable. The amendable date is 03/01/2017, as in Wednesday. We opened up negotiations with the company at the earliest time allowable (1 year prior to the amendable date).

 

Besides upping the pay rates, what sorts of things do people want to see in the new contract?

 

No airline will pay what Frontier costs. It makes too much money. We won't be sold in the near or long term, in my opinion.

Another possibility too: The IPO, when it eventually occurs, might only be partial, leaving Indigo as majority shareholders, and in charge for a very long time.

If you took to flipping a house and suddenly realized it commanded 3x market rent, was appreciating like a rocket ship, and you were smart, you'd postpone your plans to sell it.

The airline is too valuable - It will only be parted with, whether to the public or another corporation, when the same output (which is minimal) of energy and investment can make more elsewhere.