We’re not getting an industry leading contract. And now it’s clear why. The head shed thought the F9 merger and 5th biggest airline with huge growth plans would be enough to stave off attrition. They were wrong. No one who can move on wants to wait 2-3 years for a JCBA when you can do better at a legacy pretty much now.

And that’s fine. Indigo and Franke don’t pay top dollar for anything. They weren’t going to give it to you either. B6, if chosen, won’t either, but it would be closer to industry standard.

All these grand dreams of growth and great contract count for nothing when you can’t staff the airline. We can’t staff the airline, and movement at the legacies will make it incredibly difficult for the next 4-7 years to do so. Hiring 120 to net 30 month over month while not being able to staff the coming deliveries isn’t going to cut it. And I don’t think Ted et al are interested trying to address it knowing that any merger will mean that there won’t be another Spirit contract.

They made some very poor assumptions, greatly misjudged the pilot market and maybe were dreaming of spending their merger buyouts. Stagnation and attrition will be the order of the day for the foreseeable future imoho.

 

Back to your hole.

 

Just imagine how unfair it will be when the other airlines negotiate new contracts with better compensation and your pilot group will have to pattern bargain off of those without management having the advantage of quicker upgrades as a trade off. So unfair.

 

2-3 years isn’t forever. I don’t want to sign any JCBA or CBA until a new legacy contract is signed anyway. Who knows when that will be. Yes until that (new CBA or JCBA) happens attrition will be high and growth and upgrades will be slower. It’s our best leverage and everyday it gets better so why be concerned about slowing upgrades for anyone that wasn’t leaving to begin with.

 

QOL for those who are recently upgraded and the same goes for FO’s who were recently hired. Life gets better when there are more a$$es under you on the seniority list.

The “sure life will suck for 2-3 years but just imagine it after we get that next contract” line of reasoning isn’t going to cut it either. There are more than a few junior captains uninterested in that. Eternal reserve complimented by base displacements will only exacerbate the attrition/stagnation problem. A problem management isn’t interested in solving until a merger is approved or not.

And whenever this all gets sorted it still won’t be a leading contract.

 

I can be if we realize it’s possible and are only willing to vote for that. Sorry but I’m not interested in a sun country contract for the next 8 years in exchange for quicker upgrades. Everyone is hiring and everyone has movement. If folks at the bottom want movement it’s available. The “this is spirit” attitude is all in our heads. Check it at the door and an industry leading deal will come. Literally the best time in our careers to be negotiating.

 

A good contract? Yes. Competitive with our peers? Yes. Industry leading? Let’s not be silly.

 

Guys were chirping last contract about "industry leading or bust", as you remember. And then 40 show to picketing event...

But im sure this time will be different...haha...sure, im sure it will...im positive it will be different this time...haha...thousand at our first picketing event, just like Alaska just had...sure..

 

That’s another good point. General apathy meets a management group that sees us as low tier.

Franke will never pay a dime more than he has too. B6 CEO says he knows he has to pay. Either management group will be somewhat motivated to get the JCBA done. A contract comparable to any legacy would be fine in my eyes. I have no wet dreams about DAL pilots looking wistfully at our agreement. And I don’t think that makes me someone willing to settle for less.

 

I really don’t understand this attitude. Give me one good reason we cannot have an industry leading narrow body contract with record attrition and a merger management wants. The “this is spirit” or “Franke blah blah blah” is such BS. If not this time when?

Even kids in little league don’t show up and say “I hope we tie. Yeah I’d be fine with a tie.” You play to win the game!!! You play to win the game!!!!

It does require us to unite and work as a team.

JetBlue had 800 guys show up in NYC in January for their first union contract