RJSAviator76

Reading the last NC update, we are far apart on compensation with the company "taken aback" by the retro and rates numbers.... Uhh yeah, y'all chose to **** around, drag this out for as long as you did, now you get to find out. The bill has become payable now, and this group ain't settling.

Personally, I think anything the mediators will come up with next week is going to be underwhelming and unratifiable. I could be wrong, and I hope I'm wrong, but my number isn't industry-leading 737 rates by $1. Sorry BoJo... you missed that train a couple years ago.

Also, retro numbers too big? Well shucks BoJo, you had Carl stonewalling us for how long? What did you think was gonna happen? That we were gonna swoon at you "luving on us"? Four letter acronym from Goodfellas comes to mind....

Personally, I think we'll reject the mediators' offer. From that point, I think we'll either get iced, or we'll get released to cooling off period since we already stated we're not accepting the proffer of arbitration. I also believe that the real negotiations will happen once we're released to cooling off period. Nobody wants a strike, and getting released will really kick the negotiations into high gear because if no deal reached in 30 days, 800+ aircraft get parked, and Wall Street would sh!t.

And for those who think we'll just get iced, so what? Being iced hurts Southwest way more than it'll hurt us - good luck recruiting and retaining pilots. The company and FA's worked through their "ice" and now they have a TA. Whether it passes or not is another story...

Again, I know which rates are acceptable to me. Simply put, no 737 rate in the industry is acceptable to me, and I will vote NO on anything that's not benchmark setting - "industry leading" by a penny or a dollar doesn't cut it by a rather wide margin.

I have my spreadsheet for retro, and yes, it's a big number getting bigger each month. Keep stalling BoJo.... ain't getting any smaller.

Rewarding FO's while neglecting captains also doesn't cut it. Retaining year 1-5 FO is the company problem, not ours. Each pilot will spend far more time in the left seat than in those payscales, so while I understand the company wanting to pump up those numbers, they can get it via high captain rates as well.

I don't know.... maybe the company will finally have its come-to-Jesus moment, but.... I'm not holding my breath. Benchmark-setting (not just industry leading) or shut'er down.

hoover

the company knows exactly what we'll accept, they also know exactly what the retro number is, their shocked face is just negotiations. They are pandering to the mediator. I think their whole strategy lies with the mediator and fatigue.
that coupled with the "yes men" curtain that surrounds the C suite and they just don't get it.
I'm proud of our group and how they have held strong on what we'll accept.
I truly do not think that we will fold like the OAL did with their contracts.

Smokey23

Agree with both above. It's just the next stage of the negotiations game. Keep winding your watch and stay the course.

mulcher

I can agree with the above also. My rates are nowhere near the crap 737 the other 3 have agreed too. But the guy I just flew with seemed giddy to just meet those rates. If the mediator pushes that garbage across the table. Hopefully JR laughs and walks away. But I’m a NO on many other lagging concessionary items either still in the contract or already AIPd. FO that want just want higher rates years 1-5 or whatever it is. Are short sighted. Sorry if there is any disproportional raises. It’s another reason to vote no. But if we don’t have a contract . I bet the holidays schedule goes just as planned.

Mozam

Agree 100 percent. Anything less than full retro is just more Bone-us money for the C suites


Also I do apologize for misspelling bonus to the grammar nazi

RJSAviator76

Hope you take time to educate your FO that accepting subpar rates, settling on retro only emboldens the company to continue with this behavior throughout his or her career. That's your FO's money that goes to Wall Street or the bonuses whenever we settle for less.

Also, we will NEVER, EVER be in the better negotiating position than we are in now. This is the time to set them up for the future. You don't do that by being shortsighted.

mulcher

We had many contract and SWApA discussions.

e6bpilot

Agree with both sentiments above. Waiting is whatever at this point. I can go another year or two. The retro is the retro. Not sure what they expected. Their reaction to our proposal was pure theatrics, I am sure.

PowerShift

The huge 1-5 yr FO pay tells me there is a pilot shortage problem they don't know how to fix., 225 is a mess, etc. they figure if you are here for 5 yrs you won't leave. I'm a 7 yr FO and if this contract is not up to my expectations I'm leaving. Too many GREAT jobs out there to stay here.

Full retro means different things to different people. Most believe it will ben3-4% per year. BS. Whatever the % raise is (say 35) apply that to 2021, then annual there after. That has to be a line in the sand or next time there is no reason for the company not to drag this out.

Cyio

I also agree with everything above. MY budget is based on current rates, I can ride this pony until she bucks, no worries. I am not holding my breath for the mediators proposal either, it will be subpar in many areas no doubt.

On a side note, anyone else getting this very annoying "auto saved" green bar pop up every 5 secs?