Gary Kelly's ATN Comments at Message To The Field

[General Lee]

There will not be a JCBA. This isn't an ALPA/ALPA merger of equals it is an acquisition by Southwest Airlines and will be handled differently.



An arbitrated award has nothing to do with when the AirTran guys get our CBA. This is an acquisition and the date in which the SWAPA CBA will apply to AirTran will be determined between SWA and SWAPA not by an arbitrator.

So, I guess you don't want a "smooth" merger like DL/NWA? I keep telling you to achieve one, you must follow the pattern. The USAir guys did not, and they have had a bad one. The UAL/CAL guys haven't gotten their JCBA, and they aren't doing well yet. If you want a smooth transition, then you will include the AT guys into your contract and payrates. MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT THAT. If that is the case, then it will be rough.

The CBA may be determined by SWA and SWAPA, but the seniority WILL be determined by an arbitrator. You just can't say it won't. If GK want to sequester the two groups, then your culture is DEAD. I can't see him doing that, and the arbitration for seniority will happen sooner or later. I think they should hold out and eventually they WILL have both the seniority and the CBA pay/benefits. It will happen. Keep saying it won't. You are holding the payrates for ransom while hoping they will give in for seniority. That won't happen, and it makes you guys look ridiculous.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[scoreboardII]

long pole in the tent will be how long it takes to make all those boarding area poles with your boarding number on them.

 

[General Lee]

General why do you continuously flap your gums about this? Fact is you have no idea how it is going to be handled and what the outcome will be. The other fact is there are only a few who know how it will be handled. Those are the SWAPA NC and THE AAI MEC. Outside of the people on those teams everyone else is just blowing hot air and has no idea.

It makes great TV viewing. We all know how the SWAPA NC operates, offering the F9 guys a staple job, which was crazy. Now, without GK's thumbs up or thumbs down approval, SWAPA is left to try to craft something that we all know will also be ridiculous, and we all know an arbitrator will be involved to see this through. That isn't the CBA, rather ONLY the SLI. If the SWA guys don't want to include the AT guys in the CBA, then that shows what kind of shallow jerks they are. (like USAIr East guys) You will NEVER be a team if you mistreat the otherside right off the bat. YOU aren't giving the AT guys anything, SWA is. You aren't being asked to give up a dime. GK and Wall St bought Airtran, NOT YOU. Get over yourselves. And this is a public forum, so if you don't like it, go to a SWAPA forum.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[On Your Six]

It makes great TV viewing. We all know how the SWAPA NC operates, offering the F9 guys a staple job, which was crazy. Now, without GK's thumbs up or thumbs down approval, SWAPA is left to try to craft something that we all know will also be ridiculous, and we all know an arbitrator will be involved to see this through. That isn't the CBA, rather ONLY the SLI. If the SWA guys don't want to include the AT guys in the CBA, then that shows what kind of shallow jerks they are. (like USAIr East guys) You will NEVER be a team if you mistreat the otherside right off the bat. YOU aren't giving the AT guys anything, SWA is. You aren't being asked to give up a dime. GK and Wall St bought Airtran, NOT YOU. Get over yourselves. And this is a public forum, so if you don't like it, go to a SWAPA forum.


Bye Bye--General Lee

General Lee, those guys will never see anything but hatred at their combined airline. What a nightmare.


OYS

 

[Kharma Police]

General Lee, those guys will never see anything but hatred at their combined airline. What a nightmare.


OYS

I seriously doubt it. The vast majority of Southwest pilots that I have come in contact with have gone out of their way to be friendly. The few postings on an anonymous message board have not been a true reflection of the Southwest pilot group.

 

[Lonestar]

Figured it wouldn't happen until end of 2013 / early 2014 anyway, just too many people to train, aircraft have to be pulled from service to be repainted and reconfigured, etc, etc. Lots to do for certain, but doesn't mean integrating employee groups under one CBAgreement and one CBAgent can't happen faster.

Really, not all that concerned. What will be, will be. Enjoy the ride.

Lear, I'll have to stress what Milf hunter stated earlier. Although you say (and hope) it doesn't mean integrating employee groups under one CBA can't happen sooner, Gary has said he won't.
This isn't SWA pilots trying to piss off AAI pilots; this is Gary saying what will and won't happen.

 

[T3700]

The NLRB determines the representation of employee groups. As long as AirTran is operated as a separate entity, They may be represented by a different union. Once the integration begins, (painting 717s in SWA colors, issuing tickets from SWA instead of AirTran, etc) things will change. If you think AirTran pilots are going to be flying around in SWA painted tails carrying pax with tickets issued by SWA, while represented by a different union and contract, you may be surprised. If the NLRB determines that the AirTran pilots will be represented by SWAPA, they will come under your contract.

 

[roughneck]

If the NLRB determines that the AirTran pilots will be represented by SWAPA, they will come under your contract.

Just like all ALPA carriers operate under the same contract? You obviously don't understand how this works.

 

[stalker]

Thats funny, all of US AIRS airplanes are painted the same color and they work under two different contracts!

 

[dicko]

A reasonable SLI will be the factor that decides when and if AirTran gets to operate under the Swapa CBA and when that will occur.

Were you bullied as a child ..... Is that the problem ?