Frontier Airlines announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union leadership for temporary wage and benefit concessions.
The Teamsters represent about 430 people at Frontier including mechanics and related workers, tool room employees, aircraft appearance agents and material specialists. The concessions will now be put before the union membership for a ratification vote.
"I am pleased we were able to come to an agreement with the union leadership," said Frontier President and CEO Sean Menke. "In challenging times like these, we need all of our employees supporting us in this process, and this tentative agreement is an important step in that direction."
"The Teamsters Union and its members are aware of the issues facing Frontier Airlines and the entire Airline industry," said Matthew Fazakas, President and Principal Office of Teamsters Local 961. "We understand that in these tough economic times facing the airline industry, all Frontier employees need to contribute to the Company's future success. We are recommending that our members vote to approve the temporary wage-reduction plan. This needs to be a "win-win" situation" for all."
Two weeks ago, Frontier asked all of its employees, both represented and non-represented, to take temporary wage and benefit concessions to help the airline as it attempts to, among other things, secure debtor in possession financing. Frontier's other two unions: the Frontier Airlines Pilots Association (FAPA) and the Transportation Workers Union (TWU), ratified agreements for those concessions last week. At the beginning of May, Menke and other members of the executive management team also agreed to up to 20% in wage and benefits concessions. Frontier plans to reexamine all the employee concessions in September based on the developing financial condition of the company and current economic conditions.
