USAPA Members Walking Picket Lines With Spirit Crews

The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, said on Tuesday it fully supports Spirit Airlines’ pilots, who initiated a strike this weekend over what the union said are sub-par pay and working conditions. In solidarity, some US Airways pilots joined Spirit pilots and other airline crews on the picket line last week in advance of the strike, which officially began on Saturday morning.

“US Airways pilots could not sympathize more with the Spirit pilots, since the similarities in our conditions are striking,” said USAPA President Mike Cleary. “Like us, the Spirit pilots gave up pay, working conditions and benefits when our managements needed to save our airlines. Like us, the Spirit pilots have been working at the bottom of the industry pay scale and without a pay raise for years. Like us, their management team has dragged out contract talks for nearly four years. Like us, their management is attempting to impose below-standard pay and working conditions in the face of an improving economy.”

Spirit Airlines reported record profits last year of $83 million, ranking it as the most profitable U.S. airline by pre-tax profit margin last year, but during contract negotiations the union holds that the company is asking its pilots to take concessions of $30 million. It says some Spirit pilots already earn up to 40 percent less than airline pilots with similar jobs at other carriers.

“We continue to say that now is the time to draw a line in the sand with regard to passenger safety and worker respect,” said Cleary. “No airline group enjoys disrupting passenger travel, and we do everything possible to avoid striking. But under U.S. laws strikes are the only work action available to us to help achieve a fair contract. For too long the world’s carriers have participated in a race to the bottom, demanding longer days and contract concessions from already-strained crews, while they continue to find the money for obscene management bonuses. The public is finally becoming aware of the direct relationship between overworked crews and safety.”

FMI: www.usairlinepilots.org