DonVerita
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2002
- Posts
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-- ATN MEC: Special Message --
"August 19, 2011
As most of you know by now, yesterday, in a special MEC meeting in Atlanta, the ATN Master Executive Council voted against sending the integration agreements to the pilot group for ratification. The MEC heard the voices of our pilots and in the end made their decision.
The MEC believes that the AirTran pilots deserve, and have a better opportunity to secure, an equitable seniority list through additional mediated talks, or if necessary, arbitration. While the economic aspects of the agreement were generous and appreciated, the agreement did not meet the standards of fair and equitable for AirTran pilots. Given the nature of the list, it is understandable that the SWAPA Board of Directors voted to send the agreement to their pilots for a vote. However, the SWAPA Board of Directors had an opportunity to view the list and the various side letters prior to any Southwest pilot having an opportunity to see the final agreement. In other words, SWAPA’s Board voted without inputs from their pilots. The AirTran pilots had an opportunity to review the complete Integration Agreements prior to the ATN MEC vote. Therefore, allowing the AirTran pilots to make their voices heard to the ATN MEC. But inevitably, the gain in seniority for SWAPA pilots was at the expense of the AirTran pilots. The unanimous SWAPA BOD vote took place after the tentative integrated seniority list had been negotiated, but almost two weeks prior to the completion of the remaining integration agreements.
Your Merger Committee understood the state of the integrated seniority list, which is why they worked tirelessly negotiating and trying to perfect the conditions and restrictions and additional terms associated with the agreement. They fought to secure protections in an attempt to balance the relative high loss of seniority AirTran pilots experienced. However, in the end, the AirTran pilots made it clear that you cannot put a price on quality of life and time with your family, and that’s exactly what our pilots would be losing under this integrated seniority list.
Notwithstanding yesterday’s vote, the MEC fully supports the Merger Committee as they enter the next phase of this process. Next week, your Merger Committee will be in Washington, DC working with merger counsel as they prepare for the next steps. The Seniority Integration Process Agreement (SIPA) calls for mediated talks through September 30, 2011. If no agreement is reached through mediated talks, the process will continue in arbitration beginning in October.
The MEC and Merger Committee appreciate your continued support and ask that the AirTran pilots remain united as we strive for the common goal – a fair and equitable integrated seniority list.
In unity,
Your ATN Master Executive Council"
"August 19, 2011
As most of you know by now, yesterday, in a special MEC meeting in Atlanta, the ATN Master Executive Council voted against sending the integration agreements to the pilot group for ratification. The MEC heard the voices of our pilots and in the end made their decision.
The MEC believes that the AirTran pilots deserve, and have a better opportunity to secure, an equitable seniority list through additional mediated talks, or if necessary, arbitration. While the economic aspects of the agreement were generous and appreciated, the agreement did not meet the standards of fair and equitable for AirTran pilots. Given the nature of the list, it is understandable that the SWAPA Board of Directors voted to send the agreement to their pilots for a vote. However, the SWAPA Board of Directors had an opportunity to view the list and the various side letters prior to any Southwest pilot having an opportunity to see the final agreement. In other words, SWAPA’s Board voted without inputs from their pilots. The AirTran pilots had an opportunity to review the complete Integration Agreements prior to the ATN MEC vote. Therefore, allowing the AirTran pilots to make their voices heard to the ATN MEC. But inevitably, the gain in seniority for SWAPA pilots was at the expense of the AirTran pilots. The unanimous SWAPA BOD vote took place after the tentative integrated seniority list had been negotiated, but almost two weeks prior to the completion of the remaining integration agreements.
Your Merger Committee understood the state of the integrated seniority list, which is why they worked tirelessly negotiating and trying to perfect the conditions and restrictions and additional terms associated with the agreement. They fought to secure protections in an attempt to balance the relative high loss of seniority AirTran pilots experienced. However, in the end, the AirTran pilots made it clear that you cannot put a price on quality of life and time with your family, and that’s exactly what our pilots would be losing under this integrated seniority list.
Notwithstanding yesterday’s vote, the MEC fully supports the Merger Committee as they enter the next phase of this process. Next week, your Merger Committee will be in Washington, DC working with merger counsel as they prepare for the next steps. The Seniority Integration Process Agreement (SIPA) calls for mediated talks through September 30, 2011. If no agreement is reached through mediated talks, the process will continue in arbitration beginning in October.
The MEC and Merger Committee appreciate your continued support and ask that the AirTran pilots remain united as we strive for the common goal – a fair and equitable integrated seniority list.
In unity,
Your ATN Master Executive Council"
