GK seems transparent, but since the last aquisition, the laws have changed, and they seem to benefit the "aquired" employees too. You can't just staple anymore, and you can't just dump them off. (Bond/McKaskil) The SWA management has also signed a Process Agreement, and I bet the ALPA lawyers had some legal speak put into that too. I think GK and SWAPA thought the Airtran group would immediately take the money, and not care about the seniority. So far that hasn't been the case.
I want to know what you think the SWA management CAN do? Does the BOD want this merger/aquisition to fail? I doubt that. Do the stockholders? Who does the CEO work for? The BOD and stockholders I would think. I doubt he works for the pilot group. If this goes to arbitration, I would guess that in the end GK might have to tell his pilots "well, it is binding, and now you can blame those arbitrators, and not me. See ya." Even the CFO said it could take "several years" to dump the 717s. I don't see anything happening fast, and if the next offer isn't GREAT, it may go to arbitration, and that would be interesting to watch. That concept is NOT hard to grasp.
Bye Bye---General Lee
The Bond-McCaskill amendment was attached to an appropriations bill and sponsored by two Missouri Congressmen - Rep Bond and Sen McCaskill. It has no teeth which is why it was allowed to be attached to the appropriations bill. Symbolism with near zero substance in the wake of AMR buying TWA.
After personally dealing with lawyers on several issues, I've learned that laws usually have several 'back door' escapes and that if you want a workaround to any law, it can be done. It's just a matter of cost.
What do I think SWA management can do? I've written on this so many times; have you not been able to understand what I've written? Here; I'll go with a very simple workaround. Golman Sachs (The Vampire Squid) sets up a shell company - call it ScrewUAirAssets. Southwest sells all of Texas Sub, LLC to ScrewUAirAssets - everything down to office furniture and lav pumpers. Southwest leases desired assets from ScrewUAirAssets. The Vampire Squid sells off those pieces of ScrewUAirAssets that aren't leased to Southwest. The Vampire Squid makes nice coin on being the middleman.
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