AFA-CWA Adds Full Support to Frontier/Spirit Airlines Merger After Reaching Transition Agreement with Holding Company
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 17, 2022) — The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), representing Frontier and Spirit Attendants, reached a deal with Frontier Holdings for a Merger Transition Agreement with job, seniority, and contract protections affirmed for Spirit and Frontier Flight Attendants. The agreement was unanimously approved by the directly elected Flight Attendant AFA-CWA leaders at each respective airline.
“We are thrilled to announce our support for the merger of Spirit and Frontier Airlines after reaching a transition agreement that protects Flight Attendant jobs, assists with the AFA-CWA seniority integration that protects the bidding seniority each Flight Attendant has accrued prior to the merger, and paves the way for efficient contract bargaining that allows Flight Attendants to experience the benefits of the merger as soon as possible,” stated Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “We support the necessary regulatory approvals that will improve competition, increase consumer options and experience, and maintain and grow good union jobs.”
In summary, the agreement includes:
- No merger of operations until a joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) is negotiated and ratified by the combined Frontier and Spirit AFA Flight Attendant members.
- Separate operations with Flight Attendant staffing tied to respective aircraft designated at the time of the merger as Frontier or Spirit respective operations. This protects current jobs and maintains interest for management to reach a joint agreement.
- Affirmation that each respective Flight Attendant contract and Railway Labor Act collective bargaining rights remain in effect until a JCBA is ratified by the combined Flight Attendant group and the agreement becomes effective with a merged operation.
- JCBA negotiations will utilize “adopt and go” and “modify and adopt,” in order to expedite negotiations and preserve bargaining history.
- New hire Flight Attendants obtain all of the contractual and seniority rights afforded under the contract designated for their hiring by Spirit or Frontier prior to operational integration, and the JCBA thereafter.
- No Flight Attendant may be furloughed as a result of route changes during the merger process.
- There will be no “system flush” as a result of implementing the combined seniority list.
“This agreement includes significant protections for Flight Attendants in the merger and affirms the merger will benefit Flight Attendants. We appreciate the work of the holding company to secure our support for the merger by negotiating the terms of this transition agreement,” Nelson stated.
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Merger Resources
Our AFA leadership at Frontier and Spirit is already working closely with our leadership counterparts at Frontier and Spirit and AFA International President Sara Nelson along with our attorneys.
- AFA International Statement on Proposed Merger
- AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws Section X: Merger Policy and Related Employee Protective Provisions
- Frontier AFA Contract
- Spirit AFA Contract
- Merger FAQs
- Frontier, Spirit Merger Update: 4/1/2022
- Merger Transition Agreement Reached
