Southwest ends AirTran codeshare w/ Skywest
06-19-2011, 12:50 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
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Joined APC: Jun 2007
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Southwest ends AirTran codeshare w/ Skywest
The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association said the SkyWest-AirTran codesharing violates Southwest's contract with SWAPA, and praised Southwest for ending it "in a timely fashion." Said SWAPA president Steve Chase:
"This move by our company demonstrates a strong commitment to their pilots and our contract. As a wholly owned subsidiary, AirTran and eventually Southwest, have the capability of flying into those markets and delivering superior service. ... "It inspires confidence when your company supports the interests of its employees and is willing to honor their negotiated contract. We are proud of the collaborative partnership we have with Southwest Airlines leadership and today's announcement is another example of the benefits of that relationship."
Southwest to end AirTran's codesharing with SkyWest on Sept. 6 | Airline Biz Blog | dallasnews.com
06-20-2011, 10:01 AM
#4
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Posts: 945
"It inspires confidence when your company supports the interests of its employees and is willing to honor their negotiated contract. We are proud of the collaborative partnership we have with Southwest Airlines leadership and today's announcement is another example of the benefits of that relationship."
06-20-2011, 11:06 AM
#6
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Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 880
Nothing better than seeing this reversal in flying happen to RJs; brings a tear to my eye. Once again SWA shows that they are the best company to work for in so many ways. Let's hope other Majors follow the their lead. Good job SW.
06-20-2011, 11:06 AM
#7
Back on TDY
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: 747-400 Captain
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Hire on with Delta, UCAL or anyone else that lives for outsourcing their pilots in order to gain experience. But dump them in a hearbeat when SWA calls. SWA wants to use their pilots to fly their aircraft, and SWAPA actually wants to defend their Scope language. Well done SWA and SWAPA.
Carl
06-20-2011, 12:51 PM
#8
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All differences aside, it is amazing what can be achieved when you have a mutually respectful relationship with management. Here is another example:
Southwest Airlines pilots didn't like it when they saw Southwest's name on an AirTran Airways jet last month, said it violated their contract.
But wait -- this has a happy ending.
In that photo above, see that little circle on the front of the AirTran jet, the one that says Southwest Airlines around the top of the circle? That's the jet that carried Southwest and AirTran people from Dallas to Atlanta on May 2, the date that Southwest bought AirTran.
The problem is, Southwest's contract with its pilots doesn't let it put its name on other airlines' aircraft. As is typical in the scope clauses in pilot contracts, the one for Southwest's pilots says they are supposed to fly planes with Southwest's name on it.
As a result, the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association filed a grievance covering that flight and the other 13 that AirTran jet made with the Southwest decal on it.
This is where the story differs from a lot of union-management disputes.
"Our pilots have been raising money to buy the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas a new van in Herb Kelleher's honor. We've raised enough for 3 thus far," wrote SWAPA's Neal Hanks in an email. "But that's not particularly interesting."
What is interesting is the solution.
"To resolve this grievance, SWAPA and the Company decided to add up the average pilot costs for those 14 legs, totaling $13,000 and have the Company donate that money to our RMHD van fund," he wrote.
Hanks called it "another example of the positive and collaborative relationship between Southwest Airlines and its pilots union."
Pilot grievance at Southwest Airlines turns into a good deed | Airline Biz Blog | dallasnews.com
Southwest Airlines pilots didn't like it when they saw Southwest's name on an AirTran Airways jet last month, said it violated their contract.
But wait -- this has a happy ending.
In that photo above, see that little circle on the front of the AirTran jet, the one that says Southwest Airlines around the top of the circle? That's the jet that carried Southwest and AirTran people from Dallas to Atlanta on May 2, the date that Southwest bought AirTran.
The problem is, Southwest's contract with its pilots doesn't let it put its name on other airlines' aircraft. As is typical in the scope clauses in pilot contracts, the one for Southwest's pilots says they are supposed to fly planes with Southwest's name on it.
As a result, the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association filed a grievance covering that flight and the other 13 that AirTran jet made with the Southwest decal on it.
This is where the story differs from a lot of union-management disputes.
"Our pilots have been raising money to buy the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas a new van in Herb Kelleher's honor. We've raised enough for 3 thus far," wrote SWAPA's Neal Hanks in an email. "But that's not particularly interesting."
What is interesting is the solution.
"To resolve this grievance, SWAPA and the Company decided to add up the average pilot costs for those 14 legs, totaling $13,000 and have the Company donate that money to our RMHD van fund," he wrote.
Hanks called it "another example of the positive and collaborative relationship between Southwest Airlines and its pilots union."
Pilot grievance at Southwest Airlines turns into a good deed | Airline Biz Blog | dallasnews.com
06-20-2011, 02:28 PM
#9
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 12,038
How can this be?
Everyone at ALPA knows you have to outsource half of your flying so the company can make enough money to pay its pilots 30% (or much more) less than Southwest.
Everyone at ALPA knows you have to outsource half of your flying so the company can make enough money to pay its pilots 30% (or much more) less than Southwest.
Last edited by Bucking Bar; 06-20-2011 at 03:35 PM.
06-20-2011, 03:39 PM
#10
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Position: 747-400 Captain
Posts: 12,487
How can this be?
The President of ALPA explained to me that we need to outsource our upgrades to pay my FO rates ... but an airline with perfect scope pays their pilots 30% more than I earn, is hiring and has Captains junior to what my airline has, even after a massive early out program!
It's economic voodoo! At ALPA we will not even study such a thing! Performing our own work is heresy! Heretics are ostracized and attacked personally, then when they die they burn! ... .
The President of ALPA explained to me that we need to outsource our upgrades to pay my FO rates ... but an airline with perfect scope pays their pilots 30% more than I earn, is hiring and has Captains junior to what my airline has, even after a massive early out program!
It's economic voodoo! At ALPA we will not even study such a thing! Performing our own work is heresy! Heretics are ostracized and attacked personally, then when they die they burn! ... .
Carl
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