Spirit Airlines Pilot Strike Vote: Less Than Meets the Eye

Earlier this week, pilots at Spirit Airlines (NASDAQ: SAVE) began voting to authorize the union leadership to call a strike if negotiations with the airline break down.

To the casual observer, it might seem like Spirit's pilot crisis -- which led to a rash of flight cancellations back in May -- is getting worse. However, the strike authorization vote is purely symbolic. The probability that Spirit Airlines pilots will actually strike remains minuscule, largely because they would need the approval of a federal mediator to go on strike.

Despite Spirit Airlines' visible labor discord. a pilot strike is unlikely. Image source: Spirit Airlines.

Source: Fool.com