Southwest/AirTran deal easy landing
05-24-2011, 12:28 PM
#41
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Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: CA
Posts: 1,207
Just so I got this straight:
AirTran ALPA is telling their pilots they are working towards a relative seniority merger based on active service, and a joint contract that attempts to capture the high points of both contracts. Right?
SWAPA wants, what? Surely not a pure staple (right?) Perhaps at least some recognized artificial 'bonus' accredited to each year of service of a SWAPA pilot due to . . . what? Or does SWAPA want to keep the lists separate, ala USAPA?
I get keeping the lists separate as a desire (well, not really, I just don't want to discuss it, when its already well understood with USAPA). What rational reason can a Southwest pilot name for having some kind of 'super seniority' over an AirTran pilot of the same category other than those SWAPA pilots with an earlier DOH than the #1 AirTran pilot (ie, why should a 50% from the bottom WN FO be considerably senior to a 50% from the bottom FL FO)?
Thank you for the clarification.
AirTran ALPA is telling their pilots they are working towards a relative seniority merger based on active service, and a joint contract that attempts to capture the high points of both contracts. Right?
SWAPA wants, what? Surely not a pure staple (right?) Perhaps at least some recognized artificial 'bonus' accredited to each year of service of a SWAPA pilot due to . . . what? Or does SWAPA want to keep the lists separate, ala USAPA?
I get keeping the lists separate as a desire (well, not really, I just don't want to discuss it, when its already well understood with USAPA). What rational reason can a Southwest pilot name for having some kind of 'super seniority' over an AirTran pilot of the same category other than those SWAPA pilots with an earlier DOH than the #1 AirTran pilot (ie, why should a 50% from the bottom WN FO be considerably senior to a 50% from the bottom FL FO)?
Thank you for the clarification.
In the end, an integration of lists will happen as outlined in the transition agreement definition of "Complete Operational Merger." Until COM is complete both groups will be represented by their respective unions and CBA's. This process can obviously be dragged out for years as evidenced in the US Air-America West debacle, or happen relatively quickly as shown in the Delta-NWA scenario. Where this one will end up is anyone's guess at this point.
If you want a good perspective of the process, check out the proposals to the arbitrator set out by Pinnacle, Mesaba and Colgan in their SLI currently being decided by an arbitrator. It will become very evident that everyone in that case is surely attempting to look out for their own membership and no one else, just as will happen in this case.
05-24-2011, 12:31 PM
#42
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Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,001
1. Huge pay raise, 2. better work rules, 3. 3 times more basing flexibility 4. a financially more stable company, 5. they don't have to worry about applying to another airline (because we all know many had apps in other companys) 6. Since they're on average much younger than SWA pilots (8 years on average) they get to enjoy all of this for a typically longer career and faster advancement because of older pilots ahead of them
05-24-2011, 12:43 PM
#43
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Posts: 1,001
I get that SWAPA must try to get the best deal for their membership, but I was curious what reasoning SWAPA was using for giving preferential treatment to one group of 737 domestic pilots with similar career expectations vs. another group.
05-24-2011, 01:12 PM
#44
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Joined APC: Mar 2010
Posts: 659
When Delta and NWA pilots got into a public tiff re seniority, Johnso29 deleted most everything. He wil probably do the same here just to stay fair and balanced.
The people that see a career at Airtran as being equivalent to a career at SWA.....remind me not to take financial advice from you either.
The people that see a career at Airtran as being equivalent to a career at SWA.....remind me not to take financial advice from you either.
05-24-2011, 01:42 PM
#49
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Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 264
Wow! I bet you AirTran boys and girls can't wait to fly with this guy!! Part of the ME, ME, ME generation. And we wonder why the country is going to h*ll in a hand-basket! You act like you are just getting 1700 pilots intergrated into your seniority list without anything else. You are also getting airplanes, routes and passengers. If you are in the 50% before and 50% after, what's the big deal. Just because your pockets aren't being lined with $100 bills, doesn't mean your not getting anything. You company is getting alot out of the deal (or else they wouldn't do it), and that translates into you getting benefits out of the deal as well....namely, growth for your company....
05-24-2011, 01:51 PM
#50
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Position: 765-A
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