The Frontier pilot union has reached a framework for joining ALPA.

Our contact negotiations open in March of next year. I am wondering what guys thoughts are on staying with the in-house union or joining ALPA??

As much as I would prefer to stay with FAPA, with Indigo now being in-charge, I feel ALPA will send a better message that we do not want to keep getting screwed by them.

Doesn't matter who is the bargaining agent, it's literally going to take a strike to get a penny out of Franke's hands. They are there for one purpose and that's to turn around the company and take it public and cash out. Paying any work group is not in those plans. They will keep hiring by being better than a regional and showing an order book that keeps seniority moving.

The one good thing about going Alpa is that it will certainly make the inevitable merger and subsequent seniority integration a bit smoother.

I agree 100%. I would go with the cheaper (in dues). Having ALPA or not will simply not make any difference. The only way you will get a contract is strike (it will take you years just to get released) or after Franke has cashed out after the IPO. That too will take you quite a few years.

ALPA is good if there is a merger with another ALPA carrier. But a merger is unlikely until after the IPO. Unless Franke gets paid the same as the IPO would bring him. That might happen.

I would love to hear from some JetBlue and Virgin America guys about how ALPA has been for them so far? I think Blue went ALPA two summers ago and Virgin went ALPA last summer. Please let us know

I heard JetBlue MEC was the one that shot down our LTD counterproposal. How much does ALPA have invested in getting JetBlue?

It will make the Frontier-Spirit merger easier for the pilots.

VX just passed this summer, a few months ago. At the moment the elections just finished for the local LECs and the permanent MEC will be formed soon. Negotiations for the first-time things are needed, liked an LOA for representation for discipline meetings (which we just got) and then a dues checkoff LOA to allow due collection (still working on it).

Our ALPA just passed so it's too new to say something. Perhaps jetBlue guys can offer a better explanation/view.

From the JB perspective, it has been very good. The ALPA vote was April 2014 and we are currently in negotiations for our CBA with 12 out of 31 sections TA'ed. The hard sections (scope, pay, etc) are coming up in 2016. The negotiation schedule is very aggressive (5 meeting dates per month in 2016).

I was impressed at how quickly we were able to vote in MEC/LEC members, fill committee positions, and get to work on the CBA. The reps have all been excellent whenever I've had an issue. We voted 71% in favor of ALPA (I think VX was even higher) and that sent a strong signal. There is a definite feeling that we are heading in the right direction.

That's great to hear. I realize the vast majority of the work is done by the local guys and not the national ALPA guys, but im happy to hear things are moving in the right direction at JetBlue.

Looks like JetBlue, Virgin, Spirit and possibly Frontier will all be represented by ALPA. Seems like there might be some strength in that. Let's raise the bar!!