On Monday, April 15, 2013, Dozens of Spirit Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) assembled at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport where they staged a "send-off party" for the AFA Negotiating Team. The representatives of the world’s largest Flight Attendant union departed for contract negotiations with management April 16 through April18.
Todd St. Pierre, AFA President at Spitit issued a statement in support of flight attendants saying, "It is well past time that Spirit management recognizes the significant role Flight Attendants have in the success of our airline, particularly in light of our airline's profitability and expansion in Dallas-Fort Worth, Las Vegas and Chicago. The time for excuses and stonewalling is over. It is critical that management come to the table and negotiate a contract that reflects the contributions of Flight Attendants to our successful and vibrant airline. We are prepared to do what it takes to reach an agreement that can be ratified. It appears management is choosing a path that could lead to a strike. Our strategy is designed to reach an agreement, but if management prefers to disrupt travel for passengers then they have no business running our airline."
Spirit Flight Attendants are willing to go to great lengths to reach an agreement - an overwhelming 98.4 percent voted to authorize a strike should negotiations reach an impasse. If a strike is legally permitted, Spirit Flight Attendants will utilize AFA's trademarked strike strategy, CHAOS(TM). With CHAOS, or Create Havoc Around Our System(TM), a strike could affect the entire system or a single flight. The union decides when, where and how to strike without notice to management or passengers.
Earlier this year, AFA asked the National Mediation Board for a proffer of arbitration, which could result in a release to a 30-day cooling-off period and strike deadline. That decision may come at any time.
Visit www.spiritafa.com or www.afanet.org.
