Claims Suit Is 'Without Merit' And Ill-Considered
Spirit Airlines acknowledged Thursday the Air Line Pilots
Association had filed a lawsuit against the airline seeking to
require the Airline to reverse certain work rule and other changes
implemented by the company over the past two months. The airline
says those initiatives were developed in response to unprecedented
economic and airline industry conditions and undertaken to allow
Spirit to remain competitive, continue to offer low airfares to its
customers and continue to provide well paid, secure airline jobs to
its outstanding employees.
"The work rule adjustments were among dozens of cost savings
initiatives implemented at Spirit in response to unprecedented oil
prices and a slowing US economy," said Ben Baldanza, Spirit's
president and CEO. "Each of the changes is permitted under the
existing collective bargaining agreement. We understand that some
of our pilots are unhappy about the changes but, in our view, the
work rule adjustments are critically necessary in these challenging
times for the well being of the company and our employees. Each
issue is being negotiated in already scheduled arbitrations or in
our ongoing collective bargaining under supervision of a Federal
mediator."
Spirit notes ALPA's lawsuit couldn't have come at a worse time.
According to the ultra-low-cost carrier, the suit came as fuel
prices are up 93 percent in the past year and have tripled in the
last 24 months. Six US airlines have gone out of business, another
is operating in bankruptcy, and all remaining US carriers have
announced dramatic reductions in flying schedules and layoffs
totaling more than 30,000 employees.
Spirit itself has announced that it would reduce its schedule in
the second half of 2008 by prematurely returning aircraft in its
fleet and terminating or furloughing over 250 employees, including
115 pilots.
"As
everyone knows, the economics of our industry have changed
dramatically, as the result of a doubling in fuel prices over the
past year and the recession in the United States," added Baldanza.
"Our decision to discontinue certain less efficient practices
within the bounds of our existing agreement is just one part of a
company-wide range of initiatives aimed at improving revenues and
reducing costs. These changes help to ensure the company's
continued ability to compete, grow, and protect our employees'
jobs.
"The negative effect of current market conditions on the airline
industry is unprecedented," the CEO concluded. "Spirit certainly is
not singling out its pilots, who do an outstanding job every day
and have helped the company reduce fuel consumption and other
costs. We believe that the airlines that step up to these tough
choices will protect the most jobs and have the best chance at
securing a stable future for their employees."
For its part, ALPA may question Baldanza's assertion that pilots
aren't in the company's crosshairs.
As ANN reported last month, ALPA claims the
airline has threatened investigations and even disciplinary action
for pilots calling in sick, to combat an alleged sick-out... which,
naturally, the union denies.