Dr Pepper

Are you seriously expecting an industry leading contract?

flyingpuma1

Well, we already have industry leading distance learning...

skybolt

You said it yourself, "They enjoy the benefits of a seriously underpaid labor force". That's why they will drag it out.

But that's a given, you also said, "I expect their optimum timing to be somewhere before these occur." I agree, but not for the seemingly obvious reason. If we get a TA before DAL, Spirit has a chance to fool us with a "industry std" pay package and therefore gain ratification. If our TA comes out after DAL ratifies a TA that dramatically increases industry std, I see no way that Spirit will give us that std because it will increase their costs far above anything that falls under their "Ultra Low COST" mantra. I predict that they will give us a little, but that we'll have to fight hard for anything near industry std. And that'll take years.

I just doubt that Spirit management will take the sure bet (pay us now), their past practice seems to predict that they will gamble and try to pay us later.

back to my cave

Dr Pepper

Agreed.
I was thinking they would have been smart to give us an industry standard contract about six months ago, that would have taken AAs new contract out of the picture as well. Now they are kinda stuck, they could give us a contract that would be accepted by the pilot group but be far below what other carriers are offering and leave them with an inability of attracting and retaining pilots. If they decide to drag things out Jetblue, Hawaiian, and even Allegiant could have a new contract. It is going to be an interesting couple of years.

JoeyMeatballs

You guys are on crack if you think we'll get a TA before DELTA ratifies a new contract. The TA at DELTA will pass with 65-70% in favor.

@ Dr Pepper

What do you mean an interesting few years!? I'm not expecting a TA by August but I can't imagine it will take "years"?

8JRMfortheyear

I say 3 to 4 yrs of negotiating in good faith

JoeyMeatballs

DAL & NWA, UAL& CAL, AA& US air All done in less than 2. DAL just reached a TA with 6 months before current contract is up Anything longer than that is not what I consider "Good faith"

Dr Pepper

I dont think we see an acceptable TA before attrition picks up to unacceptable levels. Im not saying we wont get a TA that resembles the distance learning LOA but certainly not industry leading or even industry standard.

northdakota

Meaning a TA that we somehow manage to turn 40-50 hours of credit into 10 hours of credit by a 70% vote? That is "resembling the distance learning TA"

Hugedouche

Just wondering how much you think it will increase their cost on % basis?