AirTran MEC: Whine on!

[roughneck]

Oh to the contrary. It's only being awarded to our MCO pilots. Next bid will be awarded to a hire date of 10/18/2010 (post announcement) out of MCO. Therefore skipping all of the senior ATL FO's.

It really is a shame that the transition is not based on seniority. Your negotiators should have insisted on seniority order but that is not what the agreement allows for. ALPA agreed to out of seniority transition and both sides ratified it.

 

[RLAblows]

It really is a shame that the transition is not based on seniority. Your negotiators should have insisted on seniority order but that is not what the agreement allows for. ALPA agreed to out of seniority transition and both sides ratified it.

Wrong! It was out of seniority based on the transition bid SWA/ FO award. It could be awarded out of seniority if you were based in MCO or MKE and on the transition bid with a SWA/FO award. There were only 707 SWA slots on the transition bid and the above mentioned and 2 on the current award were not awarded SWA on the transition bid. It sure would be great if you guys would get educated on what is going on at AirTran before you throw out your "Airtran is whining" comments. ALPA did not agree to this and neither did I.

 

[roughneck]

Wrong! It was out of seniority based on the transition bid SWA/ FO award. It could be awarded out of seniority if you were based in MCO or MKE and on the transition bid with a SWA/FO award. There were only 707 SWA slots on the transition bid and the above mentioned and 2 on the current award were not awarded SWA on the transition bid. It sure would be great if you guys would get educated on what is going on at AirTran before you throw out your "Airtran is whining" comments. ALPA did not agree to this and neither did I.

Maybe this will refresh your memory of what was ratified.

A. Transition of Pilots from AirTran to Southwest:

1. AirTran Pilots will transition to Southwest in scheduled groups, taking into consideration the operational and training needs of both Southwest and AirTran. Southwest will determine the timing, qualifications and number of AirTran pilots needed for each scheduled group. The transition of AirTran Pilots to Southwest will be completed by December 31, 2014, unless otherwise mutually agreed by Southwest and SWAPA.

2. To the extent possible within seat, while facilitating staffing requirements during the transition period, the transition of Pilots from AirTran to Southwest will be accomplished on a seniority bid process based upon AirTran seniority, AirTran equipment and seat position, and additional AirTran duty at the time of the award.

3. AirTran Check Airmen will be transitioned to ensure sufficient coverage at Southwest and AirTran during the integration. AirTran Check Airmen transitioned to Southwest out of the projected transition order will be assigned to the Southwest domicile that their seniority would have held.

 

[PCL_128]

It really is a shame that the transition is not based on seniority. Your negotiators should have insisted on seniority order but that is not what the agreement allows for. ALPA agreed to out of seniority transition and both sides ratified it.

Your definition of "agreed" leaves much to be desired.

 

[scoreboardII]

RLA, in black and white above, actually in red. SWA has the right to bring over anyone they deem, when they deem it. You agreed to this. Anyhow, this is standard Ops for a closing operation, they cannot allow all the senior guys (CA) to transition, then once all the CA are gone, close the joint.

 

[maxblast72]

Your negotiators should have insisted on seniority order but that is not what the agreement allows for. ALPA agreed to out of seniority transition and both sides ratified it.

Roughneck, here is the issue. TBN 13-08 just closed with a June 2007 AirTran new hire being awarded an August Dallas transition training class date. This pilot was awarded a TBA 717 FO slot in the transition bid that closed in December 2011.

There are 30 ATL 717 FOs, 118 ATL 737 FOs, and 13 MCO 717 FOs senior to that pilot who were awarded SWA 737 FO in the transition bid. The junior MKE 737 FOs had to assume their awarded TBA 717 FO position a few months back (when MKE closed) while the junior MCO 737 FOs are getting to go to Dallas in lieu of assuming their awarded TBA 717 FO position on this side of the partition (when their base closed in September).

Since SWA management and the ATN MEC could not come up with a solution for how to handle the 717 sublease deal, SWA management decided unilaterally to stop 737 to 717 training. It is pretty easy to understand their motive in doing this (reduce training costs).

The plan for 2013 had 12 crews crossing per month until after summer at which point that increased to 24 crews per month. That plan hasn't changed. What has changed is what base/aircraft/seat those crews will be coming from. It is a big deal to our first officers and some captains. Some will go earlier while others will go later.

There will be DRCs and grievances filed for the next few years (and maybe a few more DFR lawsuits). It isn't my fight anymore, and it isn't easy for our current MEC. If they change anything, some will benefit while others will be hurt.

 

[RLAblows]

I'm guessing that isn't from our LOA with the company. Explain to me the transition bid?

 

[roughneck]

Roughneck, here is the issue. TBN 13-08 just closed with a June 2007 AirTran new hire being awarded an August Dallas transition training class date. This pilot was awarded a TBA 717 FO slot in the transition bid that closed in December 2011.

There are 30 ATL 717 FOs, 118 ATL 737 FOs, and 13 MCO 717 FOs senior to that pilot who were awarded SWA 737 FO in the transition bid. The junior MKE 737 FOs had to assume their awarded TBA 717 FO position a few months back (when MKE closed) while the junior MCO 737 FOs are getting to go to Dallas in lieu of assuming their awarded TBA 717 FO position on this side of the partition (when their base closed in September).

Since SWA management and the ATN MEC could not come up with a solution for how to handle the 717 sublease deal, SWA management decided unilaterally to stop 737 to 717 training. It is pretty easy to understand their motive in doing this (reduce training costs).

The plan for 2013 had 12 crews crossing per month until after summer at which point that increased to 24 crews per month. That plan hasn't changed. What has changed is what base/aircraft/seat those crews will be coming from. It is a big deal to our first officers and some captains. Some will go earlier while others will go later.

There will be DRCs and grievances filed for the next few years (and maybe a few more DFR lawsuits). It isn't my fight anymore, and it isn't easy for our current MEC. If they change anything, some will benefit while others will be hurt.

I understand the angst but you cant complain about the company exercising the rights that they were granted in the SLI agreements.

 

[RLAblows]

No they are completely disregarding our LOA with them. You obviously know nothing of our transition bid. The LOA states they will follow the transition bid. It's on page 3 if you have access to it. It's also in black and white.

 

[RLAblows]

So Max, that being said and since you were a negotiator at the table. Would you say that they aren't following their agreement?