SWA hires former ALPA prez for labor relations?

[fam62c]

SWA quest for international service is being done from scratch. Even tho FL is on the SOC and already flies international SWA has to be vetted by the FAA and various channels before the OVER WATER flying begins. Bringing on such a person who has ties to Washington will make it easier for SWA to move their international flying thru the various government hurdles. Typically when someone like Babbit comes on he has know associates who have government ties so after him there will probably be a series of individuals who follow him.

There's probably some truth to that, his connections within the FAA are probably the main reason he was brought in, labor relations is probably secondary.

 

[Kharma Police]

When an airline brings in an outsider to negotiate labor contracts the reason is not to play nice with the unions.

Speaking of which, I wonder how Section 6 is going for SWAPA..........

 

[airlinepilot]

1-2-3

Guess they didn't tell Randy that 1-2-3 was history.

 

[scoreboardII]

Badump bump ching!

 

[fam62c]

When an airline brings in an outsider to negotiate labor contracts the reason is not to play nice with the unions.

Speaking of which, I wonder how Section 6 is going for SWAPA..........

There's probably some truth to that as well, there is a reason why an outsider (from Eastern and ALPA no less) is being inserted between the top management and the employees. The SW unions may find that this round of negotiations will look more like what typically happens in the industry. The days of fast, easy contract settlements that are very lucrative for the employees may be a thing of the past. SW's costs are rising and their profit margins are not what they once were, this goes with the territory when you are a large, mature airline with a lot of senior employees and don't have large organic growth rates like in the past. When airlines reach this point they will always, sooner or later, look to their one controllable cost....labor....for savings. Don't say it won't happen at SW just because it hasn't happened yet.

I think the company is going to want some things and I think there will be some frank discussions regarding SW labor costs when compared to the competition. I'm sure management is looking at the operational performance numbers at AT and the wage levels there and they are figuring out that they can compensate employees at lower levels and the job still gets done just fine. As the years go by with the two-tier compensation plan it will just reinforce these observations. I think there is going to be some tough LUV on the horizon before too long. The addition of this new management position signals some sort of departure from the previous way of doing things, we should start to see what changes are in the wind shortly. Listen for clues in the next couple of investor conference calls.

 

[redflyer65]

Fam,

Your whole post is far off base.

The NC will point out that over the past year and a half we've given them plenty....for free.

800 for the same pay. And possibly the 900 if they elect to go that route.

Very favorable Near International pay and work rules.

Quick sign-off on the integration agreement.

Big savings from Section One codeshare language.

That's just off the top of my head. I don't really see any big changes coming down the line with any agreement. Possibly even a contract extension with variable payraises based on company performance. We haven't typically had very fast negotiations in the past anyway, not as slow as some..faster than others.

Paying AAI a different rate now, will not factor in..what-so-ever.

 

[fam62c]

Fam,

Your whole post is far off base.

The NC will point out that over the past year and a half we've given them plenty....for free.

800 for the same pay. And possibly the 900 if they elect to go that route.

Very favorable Near International pay and work rules.

Quick sign-off on the integration agreement.

Big savings from Section One codeshare language.

That's just off the top of my head. I don't really see any big changes coming down the line with any agreement. Possibly even a contract extension with variable payraises based on company performance. We haven't typically had very fast negotiations in the past anyway, not as slow as some..faster than others.

Paying AAI a different rate now, will not factor in..what-so-ever.

Maybe I'm wrong, we'll see soon enough.

 

[CaptWidgeon]

perhaps the employees he's being inserted between are on the aai side and not swa.

 

[LearLove]

Randy Babbitt, new Senior VP of Labor Relations.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/southwest-airlines-names-senior-vice-153000003.html

"LUV clearance, Brickyard 5690 clearance to Lubbock information Kilo"

 

[ableone]

Oh really Ableone? Its really easy to get on here and never rely on any facts.

Exhibit A for the defense was the dashcam video of the "violation" plus the traffic stop and sobriety testand the judge IMMEDIATELY threw it out. Hardly a good lawyer move.......

Next time save your opinion......

Was he over the legal limit? Yes.

He had a good lawyer and got clear.

My opinion is just as good as yours.

 

[fam62c]

perhaps the employees he's being inserted between are on the aai side and not swa.

Perhaps, but the AAI pilots are not in contract negotiations, none of the AAI unions are.