Integrating AAI into SWA

[Flying-Corporal]

I read how religious SWA is about their culture, people, work rules, etc. It hand picks its prospective employees to make sure that they fit SW culture.

SW employees are encouraged to try out other jobs within the company on THEIR TIME OFF and W/OUT getting paid. Supposedly 90% of pilots did throw bags with rampers (!?).

Now, here is the question: How is SW prepared to keep it's culture when 1600 bitter AAI pilots join their ranks?

It's one thing when you hire someone and then mold that person into your standards. It's a completely different thing when you get a group of almost 2000 employees who bring their perception of how the airline should be run.

I just can't imagine AAI pilots throwing bags with rampers, cleaning cabin, or doing anything for the company on their off days.

Will SW be able to fire guys who impact company operations for example by writing scratchy windshields? Or who will taxi slow? Or who will decline to work on their day off due "personal hardship"? What other measure does it have to discipline pilots? Or is it the standard way, you get fired, then you get paid by the union for a couple of years, and then you get reinstated with a full back pay?

I predict the first comment to this msg that AAI pilots will be happy with new pay and work rules. However, all that will wear out after a while. When you start making more money, you start believing that you deserve not only that that but even more, and for less work. I might be wrong, but I think some guys will never be happy no matter where they work and how much they make.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Blah blah blah..... I hate my life so nobody should be happy. Get a life and worry about things you can control and that actually involve you.

 

[Kharma Police]

I read how religious SWA is about their culture, people, work rules, etc. It hand picks its prospective employees to make sure that they fit SW culture.

SW employees are encouraged to try out other jobs within the company on THEIR TIME OFF and W/OUT getting paid. Supposedly 90% of pilots did throw bags with rampers (!?).

Now, here is the question: How is SW prepared to keep it's culture when 1600 bitter AAI pilots join their ranks?

It's one thing when you hire someone and then mold that person into your standards. It's a completely different thing when you get a group of almost 2000 employees who bring their perception of how the airline should be run.

I just can't imagine AAI pilots throwing bags with rampers, cleaning cabin, or doing anything for the company on their off days.

Will SW be able to fire guys who impact company operations for example by writing scratchy windshields? Or who will taxi slow? Or who will decline to work on their day off due "personal hardship"? What other measure does it have to discipline pilots? Or is it the standard way, you get fired, then you get paid by the union for a couple of years, and then you get reinstated with a full back pay?

I predict the first comment to this msg that AAI pilots will be happy with new pay and work rules. However, all that will wear out after a while. When you start making more money, you start believing that you deserve not only that that but even more, and for less work. I might be wrong, but I think some guys will never be happy no matter where they work and how much they make.

This should be VERY entertaining! Excellent subtle use of flame bait, I might add! Let's see how many of my brethren take the hook...........

 

[SWA/FO]

Supposedly 90% of pilots did throw bags with rampers

I'd say its 100% and we ALL do it on our days off. In fact, there has been a few fights over who would pick up this bag or that bag. We are very passionate about working for free. I know, I speak for everyone, we all would rather work for free then have a day off or spend some time at home.

 

[Ty Webb]

AirTran pilots love to load bags; not usually on days off, but as part of our popular AA&E (Airport Appreciation and Exercise) program.

Before you try it, though, you should understand that our ATL rampers can be very territorial and you need to know the right signs to flash, or you could find yourself backed into a cart, swinging your mag-lite and hollering for backup. This happened to me last June. They took my hat brass, but let me go unharmed. Some guys haven't gotten off that lucky. One guy got tied up and put in the baggage compartment. The Captain took off without him and they found him when the plane got to its destination. Thankfully, it was just going to Gulport, MS not out to the West Coast.

After an FO got shanked on C block (the ramps are called blocks in ATL, if ya didn't know) we got a memmow telling us it wasn't safe to be on the ramp sporting stripes. A memmow is like a memo, but comes from the VP of Gang Affairs' office.

 

[Whataburger]

Flying-Corporal,

You obviously know NOTHING about Southwest Airlines and our Culture. Those are not rampers on the ramp, they are pilots on their days off!!

 

[shootr]

And we clean the cabin and cross seatbelts while the FA's go out on the ramp and have a smoke. Oh...and we come back and pass out peanuts on long legs to give the FA's a break.

 

[yoyoma]

ummm, do the airtran pilots think they are being hired at swa as pilots?? no they will be rampers. why would swa want regional pilots?

 

[Bob Dylan]

I read how religious SWA is about their culture, people, work rules, etc. It hand picks its prospective employees to make sure that they fit SW culture.

SW employees are encouraged to try out other jobs within the company on THEIR TIME OFF and W/OUT getting paid. Supposedly 90% of pilots did throw bags with rampers (!?).

Now, here is the question: How is SW prepared to keep it's culture when 1600 bitter AAI pilots join their ranks?

It's one thing when you hire someone and then mold that person into your standards. It's a completely different thing when you get a group of almost 2000 employees who bring their perception of how the airline should be run.

I just can't imagine AAI pilots throwing bags with rampers, cleaning cabin, or doing anything for the company on their off days.

Will SW be able to fire guys who impact company operations for example by writing scratchy windshields? Or who will taxi slow? Or who will decline to work on their day off due "personal hardship"? What other measure does it have to discipline pilots? Or is it the standard way, you get fired, then you get paid by the union for a couple of years, and then you get reinstated with a full back pay?

I predict the first comment to this msg that AAI pilots will be happy with new pay and work rules. However, all that will wear out after a while. When you start making more money, you start believing that you deserve not only that that but even more, and for less work. I might be wrong, but I think some guys will never be happy no matter where they work and how much they make.

I've been thinking the same thing. Obviously, much of SWA secret of success is the relationship with labor. I can't see them dropping a nuclear bomb on the list by integrating AT pilots with anything more than a staple.

I heard the other rumor about the holding company being the actual entity buying AirTran, as SWA has no intention to integrate, but to run two airlines. and eventually close AirTran down. With the new crappy AirTran contract, this seems more plausible.

One last thing is that SWA could just walk away if the AT pilots don't cooperate. Since the AT pilots just signed the lousy new TA, I can't see them having much leverage to demand anything - otherwise they have to go back to their crappy new TA.

Probably when it's all said and done, AirTran pilots will be begging for a staple...all part of the grand plan.

JMHO

 

[Kharma Police]

ummm, do the airtran pilots think they are being hired at swa as pilots?? no they will be rampers. why would swa want regional pilots?

Sweet!, with our pay protection we will be the highest paid rampers in history!

 

[Kharma Police]

I've been thinking the same thing. Obviously, much of SWA secret of success is the relationship with labor. I can't see them dropping a nuclear bomb on the list by integrating AT pilots with anything more than a staple.

I heard the other rumor about the holding company being the actual entity buying AirTran, as SWA has no intention to integrate, but to run two airlines. and eventually close AirTran down. With the new crappy AirTran contract, this seems more plausible.

One last thing is that SWA could just walk away if the AT pilots don't cooperate. Since the AT pilots just signed the lousy new TA, I can't see them having much leverage to demand anything - otherwise they have to go back to their crappy new TA.

Probably when it's all said and done, AirTran pilots will be begging for a staple...all part of the grand plan.

JMHO

....skip...skip....skip....skip....

 

[Ty Webb]

I heard the other rumor about the holding company being the actual entity buying AirTran, as SWA has no intention to integrate, but to run two airlines. and eventually close AirTran down. With the new crappy AirTran contract, this seems more plausible.

OK, I think we all now realize that your posts are supposed to be humorous flame-bait. I thought for a while that you were really serious.

Nice one, you're right up there with Instructordude.

 

[Cometman]

Sweet!, with our pay protection we will be the highest paid rampers in history!

Is it possible for all the pilots from Airtran to come over to SWA as first year employees but still get a fair SLI? Would that mean that any Captains that keep their seat would get first year Captain pay and all FO's would get first year first officer pay?

Could that be used in the process? You could keep your new pay rates since you have pay protection.

 

[Kharma Police]

Is it possible for all the pilots from Airtran to come over to SWA as first year employees but still get a fair SLI? Would that mean that any Captains that keep their seat would get first year Captain pay and all FO's would get first year first officer pay?

Could that be used in the process? You could keep your new pay rates since you have pay protection.

I don't know man, you would have to ask the arbitrator.

 

[Cometman]

I don't know man, you would have to ask the arbitrator.

I really do not think he would handle that. I think he would handle just the list. You would get a raise either way. Good luck.

 

[WNC Flyer]

Is it possible for all the pilots from Airtran to come over to SWA as first year employees but still get a fair SLI? Would that mean that any Captains that keep their seat would get first year Captain pay and all FO's would get first year first officer pay?

Could that be used in the process? You could keep your new pay rates since you have pay protection.

ANYTHING could happen, but I doubt your senario would be used. I can't see our company having two pay scales; one for OG SWA pilots and one for FAT pilots.

 

[StopNTSing]

Now, here is the question: How is SW prepared to keep it's culture when 1600 bitter AAI pilots join their ranks?

The re-education camp is being set up in Dallas as we speak.

 

[Dash Power]

The re-education camp is being set up in Dallas as we speak.

That may no be too far off.

I have heard that our company is wanting a three to five year integration of employees.

Considering the effects that change can have on many people, that may be a good idea for all employee groups.

 

[Muppets]

4th year FO pay to be a ramper. Sweet, I would happily do that- home every night. This sounds like a great idea....

 

[roughneck]

Muppet,
I hope you are on the Airtran Merger Team. That is the most reasonable response I have seen on FI yet. Welcome aboard.

 

[Lear70]

I like that no one is taking the obvious flame bait...

However, a word of warning as a mod. There's no need to start multiple threads on the same subject. We've asked the same thing for the UAir/AWA threads as well as the TSA threads. Don't need 4 threads running on the same subject.

Please don't start another thread about the SWA/AAI SLI unless there's some major NEW development that drastically changes the playing field.

Thanks,

 

[rajflyboy]

Air Tran will be a "Subsidiary" of SWA. Nothing less. Nothing more.

The Dream continues.

 

[Flying-Corporal]

I like that no one is taking the obvious flame bait...

Well, it's not. I am really interested to see how SW airlines is prepared for a culture change.

Please don't start another thread about the SWA/AAI SLI unless there's some major NEW development that drastically changes the playing field.
Thanks,

It's not about integration. It is about SW culture. I don't mention the word seniority list once in my original post.

 

[Whataburger]

I like that no one is taking the obvious flame bait...

However, a word of warning as a mod. There's no need to start multiple threads on the same subject. We've asked the same thing for the UAir/AWA threads as well as the TSA threads. Don't need 4 threads running on the same subject.

Please don't start another thread about the SWA/AAI SLI unless there's some major NEW development that drastically changes the playing field.

Thanks,

Is FI running out of memory space or something?

 

[Lear70]

Is FI running out of memory space or something?

No, it just gets annoying for people who work at other airlines and don't give a rat's about us to see half the first page of threads about SWA and AAI.

Same thing about coming here and seeing 5 threads about TSA or 7 threads about AWA/UAir all on the front page. No reason for all the separate threads and it gets to where we will just merge the threads if they get to be obnoxiously proliferate.

/mod

On a personal note, I see no reason why the cultures won't blend well. The OP obviously doesn't work at AAI and doesn't see the countless pilots who go above and beyond every, single day, even when we've been in extended contract negotiations, to make the operation work.

Yes, we've slung bags, helped F/A's clean, made food runs for the F/A's as well as our fellow pilots, helped gate agents push wheelchairs, etc, etc. I've said it once and I'll say it again, most of us came to AAI thinking it could be "the next Southwest", and HR has done a good job hiring "can do" attitudes over the last decade.

I think most of the SWA crews will be pleasantly surprised... time will tell.

 

[Ty Webb]

Agreed, Lear. I too have done all of those things, as have most AirTran pilots. Unfortunately, being in contract negotiations for five + years tends to be somewhat anti-motivational. Thankfully, that chapter is closed.

 

[carl p]

When I came to AT in 07 the pilots had been struggling with negotiations for a couple years already. I was impressed with their attitude, dedication to the customer, and willingness to go the extra mile. Even in the face of difficult contract negotiations, pilot's routinely help with wheelchairs, bags, UMs, or whatever is required. I honestly believe this what makes AT such a worthy competitor to a great airline like SWA, and ultimately will allow the LUV culture to thrive.

I'm glad the AAI/SWA peeps aren't taking the bait.

 

[waveflyer]

And yet Lear- didn't I get crucified for asking to limit same thread starts over at the non aviation page? It was said I was trying to censor

 

[CatfishVT9]

Agreed, Lear. I too have done all of those things, as have most AirTran pilots. Unfortunately, being in contract negotiations for five + years tends to be somewhat anti-motivational. Thankfully, that chapter is closed.

Ditto. Culture is about environment. Our management has been holding this place back with their treatment of employees. It's hard to get motivated to do anything above and beyond when Crew Skeds has just found a way to steal a few hundred bucks from you or flat out lie to you so you will take a reassignment.

Now put us in an environment that is the complete opposite. I think most of us can't wait to get into the new game. Put me in, "Coach".

 

[Wesb737fo]

I've been thinking the same thing. Obviously, much of SWA secret of success is the relationship with labor. I can't see them dropping a nuclear bomb on the list by integrating AT pilots with anything more than a staple.

I heard the other rumor about the holding company being the actual entity buying AirTran, as SWA has no intention to integrate, but to run two airlines. and eventually close AirTran down. With the new crappy AirTran contract, this seems more plausible.

One last thing is that SWA could just walk away if the AT pilots don't cooperate. Since the AT pilots just signed the lousy new TA, I can't see them having much leverage to demand anything - otherwise they have to go back to their crappy new TA.

Probably when it's all said and done, AirTran pilots will be begging for a staple...all part of the grand plan.

JMHO

That's the best you can do? Wow.....you need to work on your flame bait skills....you don't impress me.

Looking forward to seeing my SWA friends at the ATL Round-Up next week!