Originally Posted by redeyeAM

I would echo this sentiment (limiting concessions from the labor side of things) from a fundamental perspective. In other words, given management's penchant for changing operations and/or the revenue/business model based on how the tea leaves and chicken bones shake out in the Emerald Palace, I think all labor groups at F9 are at a non-trivial risk of serious QOL disruption due to the constantly changing tides. As such, any position the MEC takes with negotiations should attempt to insulate us from the whims of management and the consequences of their poor decision calculus. ...I would hope that the MEC's starting point is not to surrender anything given the risk that the F9 rudderless ship would abruptly change course and put us in a worse spot than before. I suspect this has been discussed (at least the 1% non-cynical remaining part of my brain hopes...); but then again, I would also wager that it's really hard to create a solid, enforceable contract when operational parameters and variables are all over the place... and will be as we try to deal with an oversupplied domestic market and solutions that involve costume bear paws.

I continue to see the importance of an enforceable contract with teeth... and I reckon that's why management is so reluctant to concede to our points about dispute resolution, examples in the CBA, etc. Case in point... Management is all for letting us drop to 30 in FLICA? Cool. Except that even now scheduling can't keep up with faciliating open time/trade requests in compliance with CBA rules and timelines. So now scheduling is expected to potentially deal with a 40% increase in requests if folks can drop from 50 to 30? Now, I get it... that's an edge case; not everyone in the company drops to 50 and would then drop to 30 if given the opportunity. But hopefully you see the example for what it's worth. I think you could find lots of other scenarios where a lack of investment by the company has either a direct or indirect negative impact on the supposed QOL that the contract affords to us. I hope the negotiators are addressing this in some way that doesn't leave us holding the bag when F9 decides to eliminate contract gate agents and replace them with self-service kiosks and a recreation of the showbiz Rock-a-fire Explosion greeting pax and reminding them to check to see if their hefty garbage sack of clothes fits in the sizer.

Originally Posted by spooldup

Not only do we need a contract with teeth, but we also need to be compensated fairly for the work we do compared to our peers... We do MORE than any other pilots in the industry with the amount of ****** that is left on our shoulders from flying the plane with no wifi or inflight weather to doing the above and below wing jobs as well or keeping track of who is doing

Also, management wanted to let us drop to 30 in FLICA, but never said a peep about dropping below 60 for credit ever during a month... I couldn't give a flying F about dropping below 50 in FLICA, but I do care about going to 30 or 50 CREDIT for the month.

Originally Posted by hercretired

in a recent Earnings report or other presentation via web, Barry proudly bragged how mediation will "lock things down" for 2 or 3 years

In other news, the airline with a heart of LUV took ?? 3 years for a contact: https://www.kiplinger.com/business/southwest-pilots-request-to-halt-negotiations-denied

Approved on Jan 2024: https://www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com/news-and-events/news-releases/2024/01-22-2024-183737461

Originally Posted by chinookwinds

If you have not listened to the last MEC podcast, I think everyone should give it a listen. doesnt sound like negotiaitons are moving along very well, as most of us probably already know. Sad and pathedic it has to be this way.

Originally Posted by hercretired

in a recent Earnings report or other presentation via web, Barry proudly bragged how mediation will "lock things down" for 2 or 3 years

In other news, the airline with a heart of LUV took ?? 3 years for a contact: https://www.kiplinger.com/business/s...iations-denied

Approved on Jan 2024: https://www.southwestairlinesinvesto...2024-183737461

Originally Posted by dracir1

So . . .

Last contract negotiations, the company dragged their feet. Then, all of the sudden, BB told his team to get a contract done and one was negotiated in about 2 weeks. It is the contract we have today.

Fast forward to this time, it's the same thing. Only this time, the dragging of feet is much more pronounced and obvious. Last cycle, they at least made it look like they were bargaining in good faith - this time, it appears they really don't care about appearances. WE show up prepared, they don't. We offer changes, they ask what are we willing to give in return.

Originally Posted by Aero1900

Were you not her last time? Thought you were?

Regardless, I totally disagree. Last time the company was as egregious as could be. They would show up the a mylti Dat negotiations session and just say they didn't have time to prepare. 100% stonewall. Every time. The dragging off the feet is not worse this time. That would be impossible.

Originally Posted by AutoBrksMedium

I've heard on numerous occasions that F9 has a sweet spot of 0% profit or even a slight loss and they make their money on leases. Pardon my ignorance, but how does this work exactly???