DAL 88 Driver

How many times did they remind us to be sure and read all the ELM (Expectation Lowering Material) they sent us before filling out the contract survey? Maybe they're finding it didn't work as well this time? (One can always hope... )

TenYearsGone

For every kool-aid drinker and company kiss butt, we need guys like PD. The balance is always necessary.

TEN

shoelu

Not everything is better at SWA, not even close, but if you want to listen to reason, some things are better at Southwest.

I am a middle list dweller and have October vacation. My month has me working 8 days with 23 days off. My vacation length is 19 consecutive days. My compensation is 92 TFP.

Most of this is directly due to different bidding systems. We do not have pref bid so lines are not built around known absences. We have available outside vendor software programs that will take your vacation month and apply contractual trip pull language to guide you toward either the most time off for the vacation (what I did) or the highest pay for the vacation period.

Those that choose to optimize pay routinely credit 120-130TFP during vacation months while maintaining a normal 18 day off average. Those that shoot for max time off will see greatly reduced compensation.

Flamer

Topic was vacation. You might have ADD. Rather than take a look at vacation at comparative carriers and admit ours is middle of the pack at best, you toss out the "go work there" argument. Nice.

All I am saying is DAL vacation is not great comparatively. Even the contract comparison showed that, and it didn't even tell the whole story. How about you help educate yourself and your peers on this and start pulling in an upward direction.

You help propagate the myth that it is "great" normally based on your recent personal experience, a sample size of one. This is harmful, especially as an LCA. Educate yourself and row with the team instead of against it.

tsquare

Ummm no.. I didn't say bupkus about "go work there". Our vacation has come a long way, and by saying some of the things you do, in the way you say them, you come off as a petulent, whiny child. Sorry if that offends you. Actually I'm not. I couldn't care less if you are offended. We are moving in an upward direction. It takes time to get to the head of the pack again in all areas, but in quite a few we are. It is sad that you always look at the negative and never the positive in any of these issues. Must suck to always be so pessimistic. I'm pretty happy with getting 79+ hours in a month where the ALV is 72 and I probably won't have to work all that hard to get it. Your mileage is obviously different.

Oh, and way to play the LCA card. WhoGAS? Have a nice day.

tsquare

Good for you. But from what I read it really isn't all that different. You have 19 days of vacation stretched into 23? I have 9 stretched into 18. Your pay might be better though, with that Chinese pay system it's hard to say. But the similarities are that those that choose to maximize pay will work harder for it. We can do the same thing. I'm taking the time off. And ours is getting better with each contract. Not good enough for some on here.. but much better. Thanks for the contribution to the discussion.

LivingTheDream

I realize you're still on probation, but try to understand this... a union's only strength is unity.

Unlike any other type of vote, a union vote, where over a third of your union brothers and sisters do not agree with you, is definitely not a landslide.

I.e., if your union received a 63% "landslide" vote to go on strike, there would certainly be no strike.

sailingfun

So how does DPA fit with your statement?

Alan Shore

Fully agree. We are near or at the low end relative to our peers.

Alan Shore

Look on the bright side -- at least they're asking us about potential concessions this time around.