Cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages will not do Spirit customers much good if Spirits pilots make good on their threat to go out on strike soon. Tension between Spirit Airlines and its pilots is increasing as the two sides get ready to resume contract talks. Spirit management sent layoff notices to most of its employees, explaining that a pilot strike may result in the airline going out of business.
Spirit and its pilots have been trying to negotiate a new contract for the past three years. Issues range from pilot pay to work rules and benefits. Both parties were released from mandated federal mediated bargaining on May 12th, resulting in a one month, cooling off period.
Spirits pilots union has placed billboards near airports informing travelers they need to confirm their reservations for flights starting June 12th, the day pilots warn that they will strike if no agreement has been reached.
The union claims that its pilots do not want to strike, but that they believe that they will not have a choice if no contract is in place by June 12th. The two parties are scheduled to meet again on May 26th. Federal mediators will participate in these negotiations.
Spirit responded to the pilot unions threat of a strike saying the airline could foresee that a strike could force us to shut down operations permanently. The union has responded that Spirit is exaggerating a strike potential impact saying they have never seen anyone shut down a profitable airline.
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