Airtran MEC voted no

[nimtz]

Qualifier: I have read none of the above thread, but based on the title YAWN! Now back to our regularly scheduled FI 200+page thread where Sky Nazis oops I mean LUV drivers tell the Eastern scabs (even if born post 1974) they are blessed to smell their 1-2-3 induced farts. Seriously mods would it kill you to have a "One LUV" only forum?

 

[puddlejumper101]

The thing the AI pilots don't understand is much of the support the AIP receieve from SWAPA pilots was that is was initiated by the company. As a group, we built the place and don't bite the hand that feeds us.

Did a majority of SWAPA pilots like it enough to vote "Yes" ? We'll never know. One thing I do know is that the AIP will forever be a line in the sand. If Arby goes better for Airtran--there will be much consternation from SWAPA pilots and huge support to fence the Airtran pilots out of the SWA system/contract/you name it. If Arby goes better for SWAPA than the AIP, the SWAPA pilots will simply shrug their shoulders any time an AAI pilot complains.

Sir Staple Remover thinks he should get better--I hope he never does. It is personal that he thinks his 6 years at AAI equate to getting hired off the street by SWA. As many noted before, the same pilot would have dreamed to escape the AAI mess a year ago--but now wants relative seniority at SWA--YGTBSM. I hope the SWA FO who left AAI this past January to start fresh with SWA is rewarded for his decision--since it's what any rational pilot would've done sans a merger.

I was on the fence to vote "yes" or "no" a few days ago--mainly to get past this and get SWA moving forward. Now that it's going to Arby, a staple is now my hope. How do you like them apples?

Not everyone wants to work at SWA. We 6000 chose to work here, and SWA also hired us. The perspective we have is something only the 6000 of us understand. This place is not perfect but I bet 99.9% of the 6000 here if nothing else respects this company. I never said drank kool-aid, just respected this company. The BOD of SWA is highly respected around here, even when we disagree with their decisions, respect is never lost. To the outside world, it seems like we are arrogant, that's not true, just the only pilot group left with respect for their MGMNT. I think the 6000 of us were naive to think the Airtran pilots would understand this. It is obvious they don't. What happens next is anyone's guess...I guess this is why Herb wanted nothing to do with mergers.

 

[Victor120]

Well, Gentlemen, I look forward to the next edit of 'Hard Landings'.

 

[RLAblows]

open time = seniority to get it...we were never offered seniority, just bottom filler seats.

Today's vote was not 1% agenda as some of you said here. Majority of Us lobbied our MEC with emails and phone calls for over 2 weeks now to not send this one sided deal to the vote. Last night at MEC meeting an overwhelming majority took stand and demanded leadership and fair agreement.

To those of you gulping while reading union e-mail, know this... In it SWAPA just gave us ammo for the arbitration, admitting that your proposal was not about fair seniority, but about exchange of seniority for money. Arbitrator is gonna love your effort to bribe in what was supposed to be a "seniority integration" talks.

I seriously doubt it was the majority of the pilots who lobbied the MEC. Unfortunately I believe our pilot group once again was lazy and just assumed it would be sent to a vote. Most of the pilots I spoke with thought it would be too much of a liability for the MEC not to send it out for a vote. In turn they never sent an email or called to let their Rep know how they felt.

Not sending it out for a vote was misguided and wrong. Let the pilots make their own choice about their futures. If it gets voted down then you could truly say it was the will of the pilots.

 

[Pilot Knob]

They already said the remaining 6 weeks would be best spent preparing our side in arbitration. Elvis has left the building.

Yeah, but it was the bloated, sweaty Elvis. So...that's ok.

 

[JT12345]

Not everyone wants to work at SWA. We 6000 chose to work here, and SWA also hired us. The perspective we have is something only the 6000 of us understand. This place is not perfect but I bet 99.9% of the 6000 here if nothing else respects this company. I never said drank kool-aid, just respected this company. The BOD of SWA is highly respected around here, even when we disagree with their decisions, respect is never lost. To the outside world, it seems like we are arrogant, that's not true, just the only pilot group left with respect for their MGMNT. I think the 6000 of us were naive to think the Airtran pilots would understand this. It is obvious they don't. What happens next is anyone's guess...I guess this is why Herb wanted nothing to do with mergers.

OMFG

The mutual respect was absent in this agreement.

Oh My Feking God that you don't see that.

 

[Fly-By-Cable]

"I guess this is why Herb wanted nothing to do with mergers"

or international, or 800s, or PHL, LGA, BOS, or many other things SWA is today. Times change, you have to change with it, or you will always stay 6000 pilot airline, while others start to pass you by. Your BOD made a smart move. Let's hope the pilots will follow.

"it wasn't do we grow Southwest, or do we buy AirTran? It was, we need AirTran so we can grow in the future" Mr. Kelly said (Wall Street Journal, May).

Your selfish behavior hampers the ability of the company that you love so much to continue to provide a stable work place for you.

 

[JT12345]

I've been bringing this up from the beginning. Never underestimate what can and may happen. Yes this goes both ways and to both groups BUT SWA has a history of loyalty (which is reciprocal) with its Pilot group. Economy is going in the tank, AT is way too inefficient in many markets, look for the cut backs to begin and guess which side of the fence they will occur. You folks had a winning lottery ticket. Perfect? NO it was not the powerball but it was a nice 2M jackpot. Good luck guys/girls, History indicates it is going to be a bumpy ride from here on out.

I don't know bout this.

AAI BWI market increased 30% before the merger.

AAI MKE tripled in size.

BOS holding our own.

MCO opens as a AAI pilot base.

SWA zero growth against us.

What I am getting at is SWA had trouble competing with us in these markets and wanted to get into ATL so they bought us. We were not doing so bad, and the market warranted more mergers.

Inefficeancy could be making 30% more than your piers at other airlines, but I think you make up for that in other ways.

Oh and about that threat at the end..... maybe preTWA, and where is this culture you guys keep talking about right now. You guys are acting like we have 18 year FOs over here.

Geezh. All I see is fear, threats and hate on here by SWA.



Whatever happens don't forget to be competitive or you will just be another airline on the wall eventually.

 

[scrub]

I seriously doubt it was the majority of the pilots who lobbied the MEC.

YOU WOULD BE WRONG!

 

[JT12345]

I seriously doubt it was the majority of the pilots who lobbied the MEC.

OMG you are so wrong.

In the beginning there was rationalization about this by many including myself. After all it was an interesting approach to it. It took time for us to work through it. I don't blame the Merger Comittee for this. They went into the Lions Den. I think they worked their butts off for this. As more things came out about it so many around me on the fense turned against this. The trend was going no not yes very fast this last week.

You were not here the last 3 weeks and have no idea the anguish over this.

 

[Empennage]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Enjoy your nap.

 

[Empennage]

OMG you are so wrong.

In the beginning there was rationalization about this by many. After all it was an interesting approach to it. I don't blame the Merger Comittee for this. They went into the Lions Den. I think they worked their butts off for this. As more things came out about it so many around me on the fense turned against this. The trend was going no not yes very fast this last week.

You were not here the last 3 weeks and have no idea the anguish over this.

There's really not a whole lot more to discuss on the matter.

It is said and done. Any of you who think arbitration is a slam dunk, it is time you wake up from your nap.

Time for us all to walk away from the debate. The wheels are all in motion and none of us have anything to do with it.

Peace y'all!

 

[puddlejumper101]

"I guess this is why Herb wanted nothing to do with mergers"

or international, or 800s, or PHL, LGA, BOS, or many other things SWA is today. Times change, you have to change with it, or you will always stay 6000 pilot airline, while others start to pass you by. Your BOD made a smart move. Let's hope the pilots will follow.

"it wasn't do we grow Southwest, or do we buy AirTran? It was, we need AirTran so we can grow in the future" Mr. Kelly said (Wall Street Journal, May).

Your selfish behavior hampers the ability of the company that you love so much to continue to provide a stable work place for you.

I know the BOD made a smart move, that's all they do is smart moves. Like I said the respect is there. SWA has always done the "right" thing for their people. Also, at no time has SWAPA ever prevented SWA from anything. In the end all of us here know what's good for SWA is good for me. Herb also said that, you either grow or shrink, there is no standing still. I don't question the BODs decision to go after Airtran. In fact, it is brilliant, but GK is also not going to put his "culture" in jeopardy. This has the potential to do that. I am happy where I am at, and I rather play for the shark than get eaten by the shark. We shall see, I just don't think you guys will ever have the respect for this place than the 6000 of us already have.

 

[JT12345]

There's really not a whole lot more to discuss on the matter.

It is said and done. Any of you who think arbitration is a slam dunk, it is time you wake up from your nap.

Time for us all to walk away from the debate. The wheels are all in motion and none of us have anything to do with it.

Peace y'all!

Not sure what side u r on, but don't throw in the towel yet. Arbitration is the end process. You never know.

 

[JT12345]

We shall see, I just don't think you guys will ever have the respect for this place than the 6000 of us already have.

Maybe. There is hope for that. But we need mutual respect from your 6000 strong first.

Peace.