Source: Association of Flight Attendants – CWA
AFA Spirit Airlines Flight Attendants picketed outside of Orlando International Airport (MCO) to demand Spirit Airlines acknowledge the concerns of flight crew and stop violating the Flight Attendants’ contract.
The picket comes just one week after Spirit Airlines canceled just over 30% of their flights due to weather in Florida last weekend. This mass cancellation is Spirit’s fourth since August, and with each operational meltdown, passengers and Flight Attendants are left stranded without answers.
With staff shortages already straining the system, Spirit Airlines does not have the staff to quickly recover from mass cancellations and delays, which leaves Spirit Flight Attendants burdened with picking up the pieces. Flight Attendants are on the frontlines when an operational meltdown occurs and they are expected to support and soothe angry passengers, all while themselves becoming stranded in airports overnight and oftentimes left without hotel accommodations.
Empty promises from Spirit management “to do better” will no longer suffice. Flight Attendants will not be silent and standby while Spirit Airlines continues to violate their employee contracts, leaving them on duty for 10+ hours after flight cancellations and on hold with the company for hours.
With this first picket, Spirit Flight Attendants are demanding the workplace that they deserve – and are contractually guaranteed.