Spirit bidding changes after the merger !
 

Hello again ! What will happen to the Spirit pilots bidding system after the merger with Jetblue or Frontier. One of the main reasons for me wanting to work for Spirit is the QOL and the flexibility the pilot group enjoys.
1) Will the Spirit pilots have separate work rules post merger or is that a whole new contract negotiation
2) Will Spirit pilots be forced to bid under the existing bidding system at JB or Frontier
3) What will happen to the pilot contract if Spirit is totally absorbed into either JB or Frontier
4) Can there be 2 different pilot groups / work rules in one airline ( like people grandfathered into old rules)

Thanks

Things will certainly not stay the same.

There will be a joint CBA negotiated with the combined pilot groups. The eventual rules and pay scales will depend upon how successful that negotiation is for the combined pilots. Then a Seniority List Integration will be done to merge the two groups. Until that is done, they will pretty much operate separately under their respective rules.

This has to be flame. How could anyone half qualified for the job not know how an airline merger works nor how absolutely horrible having two groups would be.

Not everyone is applying from a 121 background?

Not trying to flame , just wanted to understand if there are any language in the existing contract to keep it the same for " x" amount of time in case of a merger , or if the contract has any provisions in case of a merger.
Thanks again -

We have union contracts. We work under our separate contracts until a joint contract is negotiated. You want a joint contract so the company can’t pit the two groups against each other (whipsawing).

Company wants a joint contract (leverage for us) because they need a joint seniority list to realize many of the synergies that come with merging two airlines. Because both JetBlue and Spirit unions are in the same association (ALPA) policy says that a joint contract must be negotiated before a joint seniority list is formed.

Same goes for Frontier

The joint contract will be “different” for both groups in some ways but no reason it cannot be industry leading. None

Considering the current state of the industry, contracts, pilot attrition, pilot supply, and planned B6+NK growth, the JCBA absolutely CAN... SHOULD... MUST... be industry leading.

What I mean is, I agree...

Maybe they worked for ExpressJet/ASA and just assume that this is normal? Hashtagsarcasm

I’m definitely one of those “shaking in the corner of the room while Sarah McLaughlin music plays in the background” pilots, after hearing of a potential merging of 2 seniority lists. The XJT debacle was not a positively memorable experience.

Something something a seat at the table.

Was also at Xjet myself. I remember how happy I was that morning in December 2018 when I saw that we had been bought by United. I remember plopping down at my computer and taking a quick scroll through facebook. I see a United E175 and then realize it's the Xjet facebook page. I think I bounced around my living room laughing and crying. I remember things were getting so much better through 2019 until I left for Spirit. Then covid happened....

But as for Xjet/ASA, yea, it wasn't great. I remember we didn't agree to a JCBA until it was official that the CRJ side was gone. I remember I flew with ASA pilots who transitioned to the 145 and they were all great. Xjet was a great experience for a regional but definitely glad I got hired by Spirit when I did.

I love flying with regional guys on transcons…. “Yeah, no, I really want to hear about how everything went down at the RJ place”. I zone out, nod off a couple times, “what? No I’m totally listening, express jet stole all your flying… from…. tl/dr….zzzz”

… and before I know it 5 hours has gone by and I’m being cleared 25L in LAX.

They're probably just as excited to hear about the fertilizer, lime, and soil combo you use to get that perfect shade of green for your lawn.

At least the lawn is in the present, and not in the past.

Only if you can keep those darn kids offa it!

Tell me about it. Last week I had a 26 year old take up a stand on my lawn with a sign that said “Ask me about my RJ stories”

You obviously missed the point of that story and what type of grass I was fertilizing. #growopretirementplan

Kids these days…

I was never at the regionals so I’m not remotely familiar with the hijinks and scars carried by those who went down that path, but I’m sure we’re all lastholes occasionally talking too much about our last place of employment. Or the one before that.

If he gets displaced to Florida he better not be fertilizing anything. It all runs off into the waterways and creates nasty algae blooms that kills everything. #plantnative #everythinggrowsinfloridabutgrass

uh. Actually I do want to hear that.

​​​​​I've been happy with ironite in addition to my normal plug aerating, overseeding, and fertilization schedule. I simply follow the directions on the bag and broadcast with my Scotts spreader.

Yeah, all the good stuff a contract has pre merger/SLI? Don’t count on any of that to exist at the end and you won’t be disappointed. Management will take the most cost efficient aspects from both and seek to use that for the new work rules.

Well that would lead to a big old no from everyone i know.

Management ALWAYS tries to get the most cost-effective work rules and the lowest pay scales possible at EVERY contract revision. That’s what managements do. If they can’t get what they want they’ll drag it out as long as possible - letting inflation eat away at the old pay scales until the pilot group weakens. That’s management RLA 101.

But a merger JCBA is something that THEY want, otherwise all the time and money spent in the acquisition and merger is wasted, and THEY want it as promptly as possible.

If in this environment of pilot shortage and management need to get this acquisition and operational merger completed we can’t make gains in both QOL and pay, that’s on the pilots union and the pilots themselves, not management. We’ll rarely if ever have an opportunity better than this, but you get what you effectively negotiate for and vote on. And maybe that’s all you deserve.

Throw on a pair of golf shoes while pushing the spreader, two birds/ one stone.

Ironite works well

Liquid iron works better, just go light or you can turn the grass black instead of green. Oh, and humic acid, lots of humic acid.

Everyone knows milorganite is the best.

This guy sh@#s!

This thread has the potential to be Miata level...

It's $17 a bag near me. I switched to liquid products.

Don't get Halon started!!

I’ll tell ya, my neighbor…….’s wife has nice finely manicured front lawn. Rumor on the block is that it’s infested with chinchbugs though :(

Im pretty sure "Grass" was never meant to grow in FL. Every dang type of lawn weed, but not actual grass. Let the yard die off and paint it green.

Always though Bermuda grass did well in Florida.

St Augustine grows well but you have water the SH… out of it because of the soil

Caterpillar grass is the worst. Slow to grow, hard to repair, wears easily.