Sr. Barco

Oh dude...Really? I will bite my tongue but you should know that's the EXACT reason we get weak contracts. Not a popular point of view. Especially now.

Regarding the $210,000 you made, my guess is you grossed about $155k. That's a more useful number for the guy to use.

Woodbourne23

And how many days off? Might not want to base annual earnings off the assumption of being home very rarely

Thunder1

Woodbourne23 & Sa227 & Sr Barco,

You guys crack me up with your assumptions. Because I said this is a great retirement job AFTER my 23 year military career you all jump to the incorrect conclusion that I am a "kool aid" drinker, part of "Babbits 51% solution", and that guys like me are the "EXACT reasons we get weak contracts". Absolutely hilarious.
Let me tell you guys a thing or two. First of all, for all of us retired military guys this IS a retirement job. It is our second career after completing an honorable 20+ years in the military and being placed on the military retiree status and being paid a retirement pension. I'd say any job I had after that would fit the definition of a "retirement job".

Second, compared to the amount of work I did, the level of responsibility I had, the numerous different roles and jobs I had and was responsible and accountable for THIS IS TRULY A GREAT RETIREMENT JOB -- WAY less work for more pay.
Now to the real meat of the post -- in the end unless you are a union representative or on the union negotiating committee, which I am neither, we all only have one way to influence our future contract and that is with my ONE SIMPLE VOTE on the TA we will be presented. For you guys to assume you know how I will vote on a TA that we haven't even seen yet is quite presumptuous.

Finally, you tell me who is more of an independent voter and not subject to vote for a TA with OK pay raises but gives away the farm in Section 1:

a)The retired military guy that pulls down 58K a year just for breathing, has his kids college paid for thru the Post 9/11 GI Bill, has free medical, doesn't have debt from flight school, and a wife that makes good money.
b) Or the civilian guy that has no retirement, had to spend 100K+ just to land a job at regional, scraped by at the regionals on peanuts and now finally has a decent job but has a mortgage, kids, college expenses to look forward to, etc.

Which voter will be more swayed by a nice signing bonus, COLA raises, minor improvements to Reserve but completely ignores the HUGE giveaways in Section 1 - Scope.
Let me solve the riddle for you -- from where I stand voter b) will take the signing bonus, COLA raises etc because he needs the money NOW. Military retired guy, not so much.

Just some food for thought.

And for the record, based on what is going on at SWA regarding the AIP and the recent Jet Blue agreement on "distressed passengers" I am a NO vote that will have to be seriously impressed, educated about the TA to change my NO to a YES. Not holding my breath though based on initial indications especially from our LAS based Union Rep who is a former SWAPA president.

Thunder1

Sr. Barco,
I was very clear to point out that my 210K number included pay, 401K match, profit sharing and per diem.
I tend to look at my entire compensation because it is all real money with my name on it not some IOU like previous airline pensions.

Anyone with some 8th grade math skills can take the 210K number and back out 9.3% 401K, assume a number for PS (i think it will be 12+ % this year) and about 5K per diem. So, no I won't gross 155K, my gross income will be ~ 211K, of which 170K will be trip pay, 16K will be 401K match, 20K will be profit sharing, and 5K per diem.

Finally, from the dictionary:
Gross income in United States tax law is receipts and gains from all sources.
Except as otherwise provided by law, Gross income means "all income from whatever source,"


P.S. -- regarding your jab about getting weak contracts please read my other post for a clear response to your unwarranted jab.

Thunder1

Woodbourne,

I live in domicile -- no commute. This year I will work about 170 days, no more than 180. So maximum of 15 days per month. Half the month off is being home a lot in my book. And so far this year I just looked in my log book, 120 days work in the first 8 months with 20 of those days I was home by 1pm -- which to me counts as a half days work.
So, compared to my previous life in the military where I worked WAY more I have to say again that this is a great retirement job.

Just curious, what is your definition of "being home very rarely". For me being home half the month with nothing to do but focus on my wife and kids and enjoy the pool, boating on Lake Mead, hiking, ATV riding, friends company, and travel is a far cry from "being home very rarely."

PotatoChip

Good for you. Really.
I just ask that you realize that a lot of us aren't privileged or lucky enough to have a fixed income for the rest of our lives beginning at age 45. Many of us have worked MUCH harder jobs than Southwest for many, many hours for VERY low pay. We have logged hours and hours of single pilot IMC, flown into all sorts of airports as night freight operators, air ambulance drivers, regional schmucks flying twin turboprops into Montana blizzards for $15/hr. Heck, I even flew into Afghanistan, got shot at, and HIT, as a civilian for the whopping sum of $59/hr.

I'm happy it's worked out for you, truly. You provided the nation a great service, no doubt. You are now entitled to a wealth of benefits for that service. The guys who flew 10 years of air ambulance into places all over the US get nothing. It's not a retirement job. It's a job, and a good one, and one that can be better. If you treat it like nothing more than a retirement job it is an insult to us.

Just sayin...

Woodbourne23

Well I will gross 150 this year on 5 year pay and I feel like I'm at work too much.
As to the Ta, I hope most guys realize any pay raises offered will pale in comparison to not upgrading due to scope losses

Woodbourne23

Also, your take on voting preferences is a logical one. It's just that I've flown with a lot of ex military that ARE kool aid drinkers; still
Thanks for clarification

Thunder1

PotatoChip,

Thanks for the kind words. No insults intended whatsoever to anyone from any background. The fact that I DO refer to this as my retirement job has absolutely NO bearing on how I treat my job or how I do my job or how I vote on a TA. It is just a statement that conveys that compared to a previous life (we all have them prior to landing at a major) that ALL of us worked way harder than we do now. Most regional guys work way harder than major airline guys and what you described in your background was certainly way harder. So, in effect you have "retired" from that life and moved on to a better, somewhat easier life. The fact that mil guys have a pension is just how the chips land. I guess my point is that by me simply stating that this is my retirement job and that I DO consider it WAY easier than my former life as a military officer and pilot in now way degrades this job or makes me a yes voter on concessionary contracts or makes me less professional in how I do my job day in and day out. I am a professional airline pilot that takes my job very seriously and I am worth every penny I am paid and more! And I expect to see significant improvements to our contract going forward based on the profits we generate for the company.

PotatoChip

Copy all. Glad to hear it.
I'm just tired of hearing "retirement job" and the attitude like its a cool hobby that happens to pay well.