Originally Posted by FlyP

I am now starting to get some flashbacks from my previous airline negotiations under the mediator. So here is what is going to happen:

Negotiation will continue to progress in this same exact pace, if not slower. Every once in a while you will get an update from the union that will states something along the lines of "a progress was made and if the company continues with that same attitude we should have the contract we deserve in the near future..." but that is just to give you hope, some motivation, something to think that yes, the company finally get it! No, they don't.

Then, you will hear something like they got to give us a new contract before the summer, then it will turn into got to give us a contract before the holiday season, and then it will be sometime this year. I guarantee you that one of Spirit’s management goals for 2018 in the presentation will be to “reach an agreement with our pilots” but that’s all it will be, just a bullet point, nothing behind it. This same bullet point will be on the presentation for 2019, 2020, 2021, and may I use, etc.

So what will happen then? Well, there will be a strike vote, not sure when but there will be. Results will be somewhere between 99%-99.9% and then everybody will be happy cause here look, we are about to strike. No, we so far away from striking that I don’t even want to spend the time thinking about it. A strike vote is just what it is….a vote. It will give the company zero motivation to give us a new contract nor the mediator care about our strike vote, I’ll say it again, the mediator does not give a flying F about a strike vote (because we are not the one in control in this situation, keep that in mind).

Then what? After few years of exchanging back and forth of two complete opposite proposals, the mediator will finally force the union to send the company’s proposal for a vote (officially or unofficially it will come to a vote somehow). Several years from now, Spirit will have a different pilot group, not that different but different enough to vote that contract in.

I am in full support of the NC committee and I’m sure they are doing their best but from my own experience, their hands are tight and their resources are limited. Your best bet is to fill out that app and move on. You’re just wasting your time and energy.

Originally Posted by Blaggock

I don't think it matters what we "prove" to the Mediator, she isn't there to take sides, she's there just to make sure we both are talking, even if the company is talking out of their arse.

Originally Posted by Car Ramrod

This is different than the negotiations at Republic 7 years ago. Here's why:
1-The teamsters suck
2-most there were never planning on a career there, so motivation was less.
3- Republic already basically had industry standard pay.
4- nobody was hiring at the big boys so there were tons of qualified applicants. Not to mention the 1500 hour rule wasn't in effect yet.
5- Republic relies on low margin CPA's to stay in business. If they don't have a competitive labor cost, someone else will.

This is a leverage game and we have plenty if we stay the course. If it were as easy as you say to drag this out, then every airline management would do it.

Originally Posted by abbynormallaw

This summer will be fun when the Board sees millions in losses each weekend!

Originally Posted by Judge Smails

Added one important detail to that.

Originally Posted by Plane Ramrod

What happens this summer and why will they be losing millions?

Originally Posted by CarbonCub

Do you really need an explanation? I hope you're being sarcastic.

Originally Posted by OneEyedMonster

DFW officially has zero reserve CAs for Easter sunday.

Who will be the one to choke on Easter gravy WHEN a few sick calls come in?

Originally Posted by Dukeuno

DFW FOs are now in the same boat, every RSV for Easter has been assigned.