Any SWA or Airtran pilots see recent SLI at Mesaba/Colgan/Pinnacle?

[On Your Six]

No, not true, SWA considers Airtran inferior, not the pilots, you guys are held in high esteem, don't mix the two even though you work there.

Lets be real on the 717/500 discussion, a 717 is an RJ with RJ range. Our 500 can go coast to coast with gas for a CATIII. AT corporate documents state the 717 is a short haul high frequency regional jet. There is a difference, but it's in the companies, not the pilots.

What are SWA pilots afraid of? Not "not getting something", they are afraid of losing what they have. Period. Let me be clear, if you threaten that, what we have, you will be gone.

Gimmee a break! SWA pilots won't lose a dime here in pay. No paycuts have been thrown out there by management. Will SWA pilots lose upgrade potential? You bet, but that happens in every merger. Talk about sounding spoiled! Grow up, it's business! Stock holders and management want this. You will keep what you have now, but your future will be messed with a bit. It happens. It's business! Godspeed, and grow up.



OYS

 

[On Your Six]

Guadaloupe holdings was created for a reason..............

If that happens, I would GUESS the Airtran investment might go down in value, especially with "unhappy" Airtran pilots and flight attendants.


OYS

 

[On Your Six]

Not a good idea to have very unhappy employees all in one area. Especially in a service industry that strives for on time performance and gas prices are important. Not good to divide and conquer. Sounds like you might be the next USair.

OYS

 

[Flycatcher99]

Yes it is. Talk to your Merger Committee.

Exactly. Do you really think the process agreement would be written that way literally?

You guys are amazingly naive, not to mention completely uneducated as to the symbiosis that exists between SWA mgmt and the pilot group. GK will extend cordiality to you all if you play nice, but don't think for a second he won't give you alternate employment options if you get uppity, as we are hearing you are. Why would he treat a self-entitled AAI pilot any differently than he would an self-entitled interviewee?

 

[maxthrottle]

I think GK wants Atlanta. And slots on the east coast. He's not in a hurry to bring what some may see as a lot of malcontented unappreciative employees into his fold. I'm sure he knew that AAI was ready to strike before his acquisition decision. So he risks what has always been considered SWA's greatest asset it's culture, in bringing on these employees. But he can't just refuse to bring them over without a rational argument. So he lets this thing go to arbitration, as per the process agreement. Which no one likes. Then to avoid a America West-USAIR debacle, he decides to operate Air Tran separately. Or do something drastic with them. The problem here is GK has Mr. Kelleher, and Ms Barrett looking over his shoulder. Two people who hold no real power but retain a lot of influence, and helped build the company GK runs. I think SWA really does value it's culture. Mr. Kelleher's actions relative to Muse Air are legend. Now Mr. Kelly has to establish himself. He sort of started that with Frontier. Everyone seems to think after the SLI, the battle is over. In fact it may just be starting. One may win the battle and lose the war. GK may feel the need to set a precedent for any future airline it purchases, and Air Tran may be the vehicle it uses to do so. For Air Tran this is gonna be tricky. How much to push for without incurring the wrath of GK. Push to little and possibly give up some seniority. Push to much and possibly lose everything. This is gonna be interesting.

 

[On Your Six]

I think GK wants Atlanta. And slots on the east coast. He's not in a hurry to bring what some may see as a lot of malcontented unappreciative employees into his fold. I'm sure he knew that AAI was ready to strike before his acquisition decision. So he risks what has always been considered SWA's greatest asset it's culture, in bringing on these employees. But he can't just refuse to bring them over without a rational argument. So he lets this thing go to arbitration, as per the process agreement. Which no one likes. Then to avoid a America West-USAIR debacle, he decides to operate Air Tran separately. Or do something drastic with them. The problem here is GK has Mr. Kelleher, and Ms Barrett looking over his shoulder. Two people who hold no real power but retain a lot of influence, and helped build the company GK runs. I think SWA really does value it's culture. Mr. Kelleher's actions relative to Muse Air are legend. Now Mr. Kelly has to establish himself. He sort of started that with Frontier. Everyone seems to think after the SLI, the battle is over. In fact it may just be starting. One may
win the battle and lose the war. GK may feel the need to set a precedent for any future airline it purchases, and Air Tran may be the vehicle it uses to do so. For Air Tran this is gonna be tricky. How much to push for without incurring the wrath of GK. Push to little and possibly give up some seniority. Push to much and possibly lose everything. This is gonna be interesting.

What? You might hope this is the case, but there is a lot of money riding on this. GK wants this, along with Wall St. He probably doesn't want another USAir situation. But honestly, these recent arbitration awards are very telling on what might happen next time. Godspeed to you.



OYS

 

[redflyer65]

For Air Tran this is gonna be tricky. How much to push for without incurring the wrath of GK. Push to little and possibly give up some seniority. Push to much and possibly lose everything. This is gonna be interesting.

This really is gonna be the most interesting angle to watch play out.

PCL,

I understand the agreement perfectly, appearently you do not. Re-read Section VII, in particular part (b). 15 days notice is all that is required by any party to walk away from it. Why was it written that way? I think you might be delusional if you think you can box Gary into a bad merger. Continue at your own peril on that one.

I can guarantee you that the stockholders and investors on Gary's side. If this goes poorly then what legal ground are you going to be on at Guadoloupe? You're at a holding company. Why is that? Still for tax purpose 3 months from now, 1 year from now? This was structured this way for a reason, and for you to ATTEMPT to say otherwise is ridiculous. I truely believe you know that, but just don't want to outright admit it.

 

[redflyer65]

From the ATN ALPA Merger Committee Update:
That means arbitrators aren’t bound by examples of other recent cases, and are instead free to shape an award that best fits the unique circumstances of that particular merger. As arbitrator George Nicolau said in his 1990 ISL award in the FedEx-Flying Tigers merger:
“There are four basic lessons to be learned…; Each case turns on its own facts; that the objective is to make the integration fair and equitable; that the proposals advanced by those in contest rarely meet that standard; and that the end result, no matter how crafted, never commands universal acceptance.”

Interesting and very telling.

 

[Skyboy722]

Lear,

You just said this:

Even though THE REST OF THE WORLD sees two similar airlines flying similar equipment in a similar market structure.

... Even though the flying we do in the EXACT SAME AIRCRAFT (or one that's even more advanced and automated with a seating capacity the same as one of the smaller 737's) is actually the same or more involved than what SWA does on a daily basis. I find it somewhat amusing, actually, in a sad sort of way.

And then this:

around $60k a year per pilot

in the same post!

Just a little dose of reality

No kidding.

have a great Father's Day weekend out there.

You too!:beer:

 

[Lear70]

This really is gonna be the most interesting angle to watch play out.

True statement.

PCL,

I understand the agreement perfectly, appearently you do not. Re-read Section VII, in particular part (b). 15 days notice is all that is required by any party to walk away from it. Why was it written that way? I think you might be delusional if you think you can box Gary into a bad merger. Continue at your own peril on that one.

You're not reading it in its ENTIRETY. Here it is in its ENTIRETY so you can understand the full context in how the Process Agreement can be canceled (it can't now unless ALL FOUR PARTIES agree to cancel it):

VII (b) Any party may terminate this agreement by fifteen (15) days written advance notice delivered to all parties at any time FOLLOWING THE TERMINATION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT.

The merger agreement was the actual purchase of AirTran. That was never terminated (and can't be terminated after the fact), so this clause becomes null and void. The only clause still in effect in this regard is VII (a), requiring all FOUR parties to agree to its termination.

Skyboy, yes, I said we bring the same types of flying in the same types of equipment that Southwest does to the table. People want to paint AirTran as some type of 3rd tier Mexicana Click type of carrier, when it's not. Yes, there's a pay disparity, and I already said in a previous thread that I'm certain that WILL bring some valid arguments to the table. Even the most recent arbitration with PCL/MSA/CGN, arbitrator Bloch said that he gave consideration to the better contract and higher -900 rates that MSA brought to the deal.

No one said the rates wouldn't be a factor, I simply said that the pay rates alone aren't sufficient to try to paint this as an integration between a major airline and a regional airline, as some have asserted. Similar aircraft, similar flying, similar airline, just different in size and pay, just like NWA/DAL, UAL/CAL, even PCL/MSA/CLG. That's all, no hostile agenda.

I just don't understand why this all got hostile again all of the sudden. The threats and intimidation just don't need to be here, especially when we all have to work together when this is all said and done.

So I wish all you father's a Happy Father's Day, fly safe out there, and still waiting to buy beers on the overnight when the dust settles. :beer: