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Old 07-19-2023, 01:39 PM
  #1  
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Default SWA’s Exploitation, Division, & Female Pilots

I am providing two examples of what the Flight Ops DEI Council does by way of recent example. This is highly contract related.

We seek to help inform and guide the company in matters affecting equality, fairness, and unity for ALL SWAPA Pilots (majority and minority). We seek to convey all of your complaints, criticisms, concerns and thoughts so the company can implement policies that theoretically would be more effective.

Below I will provide two examples (one for a minority group and one for the majority group):

Minority Group Example:

I wrote the following letter to Lee Kinnebrew (VP Flight Ops), and Juan Suarez (VP Diversity) today and I will call for Carl Kuwitzky to be removed from his position if Southwest is serious about its DEI proclamations.

My letter:

Carl’s Exploitation, Division, and Female Pilots

“Hi Juan and Lee:

You may be aware that SWA and SWAPA are negotiating in public (to a degree) as they provide updates to the negotiations process that is nearly off the rails.

The two parties had agreed in principle on what both considered (in very rare bipartisan agreement) industry leading maternity benefits.

I believe SWA also indicated publicly to prospective female applicants that we have or will have industry-leading maternity benefits. ‘Come to SWA female Pilots for the opportunity to build a family while you are advancing in your career.’

This week, SWA indicated that it was retracting its industry-leading maternity agreement in principle because there were not “other” concessions elsewhere. The “other” concessions affect primarily male Pilots whereas the maternity benefits are of special interest primarily to female Pilots.

In other words, SWA is saying to its Pilots: “we can’t give our mostly male Pilots XX if we give female Pilots YY.” This creates a rift and division on account of gender. The act itself also reduces female Pilots’ trust in SWA, and works antithetically to any DEI goals we purportedly have. Our female Pilots are being unjustly leveraged as a bargaining tool. Further, they are being exploited to the degree that SWA represents that this is a good place for female Pilots to work, but in fact there are significant reasons why female Pilots are (a) leaving, (b) not coming, and (c) now second guessing how SWA views them and things that matter most to them - especially as child birth is among the most sacred and memorable events (if not the most sacred) that will ever occur in the life of a female Pilot.

I am disgusted and outraged.

Casey Murray rightly pointed out that we trail other majors in female Pilot employment. Is SWA trying to reduce our numbers even further, or punish those who have been loyal to SWA? Is SWA trying to undo the little we have done in flight ops DEI?

This company needs to do a lot better. I do not feel proud of what is happening.

Sincerely,”

MAJORITY GROUP EXAMPLE:

I told Lee and Juan in a virtual meeting that a large percentage of our non-minority Pilots feel that they are EXCLUDED from DEI and that we need to focus on making them feel included and need explaining with respect to why this benefits them too. I suggested that we celebrate them via random drawings during remaining months (most of the months) in which we highlight via professional photos and quality narratives detailing their contributions and stories randomly for those Pilots who put their names into the hat. This way everyone would be included and we all learn about the wonderful contributions ALL of our Pilots make to Southwest. There isn’t an Italian-American month for example, but we could learn about one Italian-American Pilot when their name is drawn; same for other groups too — everyone is important we we should celebrate everyone.

Whether the company acts is another thing, but all of your opinions and viewpoints have been shared - even the nastiest things.

And.. when there is harm done, like Carl did putting female pilots (4%) against the remaining 96%… the Council will speak. I did. It’s unfair, divisive, harmful, and contravenes any proclamations on DEI the company allegedly espouses.

I wanted to share these examples because the company doesn’t explain what we do, but these are times where you need to see. I think you all agree this is a low blow to our female Pilots especially from the company.
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Old 07-19-2023, 06:10 PM
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SWA told all the female plumbers to FU C.K. OFF in a single swoop...

Add this to the 1,221 Reasons Not to work for Southwest
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Old 07-19-2023, 07:52 PM
  #3  
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We have a flight ops DEI council?
is there a council for each work group?
Why?
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Old 07-19-2023, 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by hoover
We have a flight ops DEI council?
is there a council for each work group?
Why?
Inclusion?
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Old 07-20-2023, 02:28 AM
  #5  
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Originally Posted by loveislost7M8
SWA told all the female plumbers to FU C.K. OFF in a single swoop...

Add this to the 1,221 Reasons Not to work for Southwest

DEI is an awesome bandwagon to jump on for SWA until they have to pay for it .
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Old 07-20-2023, 06:42 AM
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Originally Posted by calmemployment
I am providing two examples of what the Flight Ops DEI Council does by way of recent example. This is highly contract related.

We seek to help inform and guide the company in matters affecting equality, fairness, and unity for ALL SWAPA Pilots (majority and minority). We seek to convey all of your complaints, criticisms, concerns and thoughts so the company can implement policies that theoretically would be more effective.

Below I will provide two examples (one for a minority group and one for the majority group):

Minority Group Example:

I wrote the following letter to Lee Kinnebrew (VP Flight Ops), and Juan Suarez (VP Diversity) today and I will call for Carl Kuwitzky to be removed from his position if Southwest is serious about its DEI proclamations.

My letter:

Carl’s Exploitation, Division, and Female Pilots

“Hi Juan and Lee:

You may be aware that SWA and SWAPA are negotiating in public (to a degree) as they provide updates to the negotiations process that is nearly off the rails.

The two parties had agreed in principle on what both considered (in very rare bipartisan agreement) industry leading maternity benefits.

I believe SWA also indicated publicly to prospective female applicants that we have or will have industry-leading maternity benefits. ‘Come to SWA female Pilots for the opportunity to build a family while you are advancing in your career.’

This week, SWA indicated that it was retracting its industry-leading maternity agreement in principle because there were not “other” concessions elsewhere. The “other” concessions affect primarily male Pilots whereas the maternity benefits are of special interest primarily to female Pilots.

In other words, SWA is saying to its Pilots: “we can’t give our mostly male Pilots XX if we give female Pilots YY.” This creates a rift and division on account of gender. The act itself also reduces female Pilots’ trust in SWA, and works antithetically to any DEI goals we purportedly have. Our female Pilots are being unjustly leveraged as a bargaining tool. Further, they are being exploited to the degree that SWA represents that this is a good place for female Pilots to work, but in fact there are significant reasons why female Pilots are (a) leaving, (b) not coming, and (c) now second guessing how SWA views them and things that matter most to them - especially as child birth is among the most sacred and memorable events (if not the most sacred) that will ever occur in the life of a female Pilot.

I am disgusted and outraged.

Casey Murray rightly pointed out that we trail other majors in female Pilot employment. Is SWA trying to reduce our numbers even further, or punish those who have been loyal to SWA? Is SWA trying to undo the little we have done in flight ops DEI?

This company needs to do a lot better. I do not feel proud of what is happening.

Sincerely,”

MAJORITY GROUP EXAMPLE:

I told Lee and Juan in a virtual meeting that a large percentage of our non-minority Pilots feel that they are EXCLUDED from DEI and that we need to focus on making them feel included and need explaining with respect to why this benefits them too. I suggested that we celebrate them via random drawings during remaining months (most of the months) in which we highlight via professional photos and quality narratives detailing their contributions and stories randomly for those Pilots who put their names into the hat. This way everyone would be included and we all learn about the wonderful contributions ALL of our Pilots make to Southwest. There isn’t an Italian-American month for example, but we could learn about one Italian-American Pilot when their name is drawn; same for other groups too — everyone is important we we should celebrate everyone.

Whether the company acts is another thing, but all of your opinions and viewpoints have been shared - even the nastiest things.

And.. when there is harm done, like Carl did putting female pilots (4%) against the remaining 96%… the Council will speak. I did. It’s unfair, divisive, harmful, and contravenes any proclamations on DEI the company allegedly espouses.

I wanted to share these examples because the company doesn’t explain what we do, but these are times where you need to see. I think you all agree this is a low blow to our female Pilots especially from the company.
"Pilot quality of life is of no benefit to the Company"
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Old 07-20-2023, 06:46 AM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by Mozam
DEI is an awesome bandwagon to jump on for SWA until they have to pay for it .
Yup. Anything they do for optics unless it cost money or benefits the pilots QOL. Then let’s negotiate it. It’s just business. Once everyone realizes this place doesn’t Luv and the hypocrisy it’s full of. The better.
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Old 07-20-2023, 07:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Fuseplug
Inclusion?
does anyone feel more included when singled out for your race, sexuality, or pronouns?
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Old 07-21-2023, 06:03 AM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by hoover
does anyone feel more included when singled out for your race, sexuality, or pronouns?
Southwest isn’t happy with only 10% of all female new hire plumbers quitting, those are rookie numbers, they are trying to raise them to 100%
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Old 07-21-2023, 07:40 AM
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Originally Posted by calmemployment
Southwest isn’t happy with only 10% of all female new hire plumbers quitting, those are rookie numbers, they are trying to raise them to 100%

I have complete faith that our mgt can do that. No one makes easer hard better than this place .
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