Southwest attendants: We have no interest in obstructing order for bigger jets

[DieselDragRacer]

By Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

The flight attendants' union at Southwest Airlines has no interest in obstructing the carrier's possible decision to add larger jets to its fleet.
That's according to union president Thom McDaniel, responding to an opinion piece that suggested the union may look to take a tough negotiating stance if Southwest opts to add the Boeing 737-800 to its fleet. The column that was critical of the union also was cited here in the Today in the Sky blog.

If Southwest moves ahead with plans for Boeing's 737-800 model aircraft, it would become the largest version of the jet in Southwest's all-Boeing 737 fleet.

But McDaniel emphatically denies the column's assertion that the union is looking to exploit the possibility of Southwest buying larger jets. The column in question cited a union letter that said "it will be necessary to negotiate new rates of pay, rules, and working conditions."

To that topic, McDaniel tells Today in the Sky that "our labor agreement requires that if we acquire any aircraft in addition to the 737-300, 500, 600, or 700 or implement meal or international service, our contract will be reopened to negotiate rates of pay, rules and working conditions."
He adds to Today in the Sky that "we are very excited at the opportunity for Southwest Airlines to acquire 737-800 series aircraft."

In fact, McDaniel says that the union -- along with its pilot counterparts -- "have mutually agreed [with management] to bypass the 60 days required by our contracts to reopen in an effort to come to agreement and have it ratified within the required time frame" it would take to meet a Dec. 1 deadline Southwest faces to finalize a possible 737-800 order with Boeing.

Despite the column's assertion that the attendants may balk at the larger capacity of the 737-800 without concessions, McDaniel tells Today in the Sky "it is our hope to focus only on the contractual issues related to the [airline's current] 737-700 aircraft to simplify our negotiations. We have already held meeting regarding the configuration of the new aircraft, exchanged ideas about what needs to be opened and scheduled an aggressive negotiating schedule to complete the bargaining as quickly as possible for our members to vote on an agreement."

McDaniel tells Today in the Sky that attendants are eager to work with management on the subject.

"Let me emphasize, we believe that acquiring the 737-800 series aircraft is a great opportunity for the members of TWU Local 556, our co-workers, and our customers to expand our company and a chance to grow the Southwest brand," McDaniel tells Today in the Sky. "We are working very hard to fulfill the contractual requirements and to reach an agreement that will make this opportunity a reality."

 

[Raoul Duke]

In other words "sure we will be happy to add the aircraft, if you agree to . . ."

 

[Whataburger]

Isn't 3 fa's serving 137 pax about the same amout of work as 4 fa's serving 170 pax?

 

[Ty Webb]

This may be a situation where management gets to reap the benefits of maintaining good relations with their employees . . . . looks like it won't take long to find out.

 

[waka]

Isn't 3 fa's serving 137 pax about the same amout of work as 4 fa's serving 170 pax?

Technically, it is less work.

137/3 = 45.6 pax per FA

170/4 = 42.5 pax per FA

 

[XR650R]

Technically, it is less work.

137/3 = 45.6 pax per FA

170/4 = 42.5 pax per FA

So they should get paid less.

 

[Daddy]

Holy ******************** that is one large human

 

[Junkflyer]

He is not obese, just dimensionally challenged.

 

[IAHERJ]

Is this rocket science for you guys? It's not like SWA is getting 777's or something. You don't even serve real food on the plane. What does it take to fly a 737 with a few more seats on it? Throw another FA on the thing and go. I'm not understanding the FA union's perceived power over this deal. Add more cans of coke and beer and another 2 arms to pass them out and you've got a flight ready to go.

 

[Raoul Duke]

exactly - if anything the Company should be demanding a height and weight requirement in exchange for letting another FA on the aircraft.

 

[beechlive]

The problem is that I don't think half of the fa's can walk the extra 30 ft without keeling over.

 

[Baronman]

Is this rocket science for you guys? It's not like SWA is getting 777's or something. You don't even serve real food on the plane. What does it take to fly a 737 with a few more seats on it? Throw another FA on the thing and go. I'm not understanding the FA union's perceived power over this deal. Add more cans of coke and beer and another 2 arms to pass them out and you've got a flight ready to go.

Exactly!

 

[Ky.BrownBourbn]

exactly - if anything the Company should be demanding a height and weight requirement in exchange for letting another FA on the aircraft.

And Age!

KBB

 

[GuppyWN]

SWA came out today and said something to the effect of "contrary to news reports both unions are actively engaged on talks over the -800" so whatever you're making it up to be just isn't.

Gup

 

[Moon-dog]

Sorry, but you lost me Gup. Can you clarify your meaning?

 

[Kharma Police]

Sorry, but you lost me Gup. Can you clarify your meaning?

You would understand if you worked there.

 

[Moon-dog]

OK, since I don't how about an explaination?

 

[Kharma Police]

OK, since I don't how about an explaination?

My guess, the Unions and the Company are working out issues of pay and staffing.

 

[GuppyWN]

The Stews are NOT halting/blocking/delaying -800 deliveries.

YET

Labor and Management are dutifully negotiating.

All negative press is just hype and speculation at this point.

Gup

 

[shootr]

Here's the deal...

The pilots and FA's have built-in openers in our contracts in case the company buys different A/C than the ones we currently fly. A good part of our compensation package DEPENDS on productivity. An -800 will take longer to turn around so sit times will be longer and daily pay may end up lower. Plane changes may increase, too. Any changes to the contracts will probably focus on these issues, first. Anything else will be gravy.

shootr

 

[IAHERJ]

Here's the deal...

The pilots and FA's have built-in openers in our contracts in case the company buys different A/C than the ones we currently fly. A good part of our compensation package DEPENDS on productivity. An -800 will take longer to turn around so sit times will be longer and daily pay may end up lower. Plane changes may increase, too. Any changes to the contracts will probably focus on these issues, first. Anything else will be gravy.

shootr

And that folks, is what we call an explanation. Thanks. I was curious about the whole thing and you cleared that up nicely.

 

[Skybus]

Here is another explanation for you. WE Generally have a higher regard for our coworkers than you and many others on here. Since you elected to go down this road perhaps you can tell me how much more difficult it it for YOU to fly heavier metal thus justifying more pay for larger a/c?

While I understand there is probably some correlation between the size of your a/c/paycheck/penis/need for hair transplant...

Bus

 

[airlinepilot]

Now the company is going to pay up for dropping 1,2,3 at the hotels......

 

[IAHERJ]

Here is another explanation for you. WE Generally have a higher regard for our coworkers than you and many others on here. Since you elected to go down this road perhaps you can tell me how much more difficult it it for YOU to fly heavier metal thus justifying more pay for larger a/c?

While I understand there is probably some correlation between the size of your a/c/paycheck/penis/need for hair transplant...

Bus

If you are implying that I have no respect for our FA's, you are wrong. Our FA's work their asses off and have service standards that vary with routes/aircraft etc. and they get no additional pay for working different types of aircraft. We've added different aircraft types on short notice(757-300's) and changed configurations drastically on short notice(737-800/900/900ER seating capacities differ depending on route) all the while expecting the FA's to work through it and get bulletins out asap and still offer the best service in the air. When they changed the 737-500 configuration resulting in a very small galley area for the FA's to work in, they dealt with it and still serve multi-course hot meals for our 1st class pax. I'm a big fan of our FA's and show it all the time by bringing them starbucks etc. on stops in SEA enroute to ANC and buying rounds of drinks on layovers. What it seemed, before I read the post above explaining the issue at hand; was a group of FA's able to hold up an acquisition of aircraft that have a few more seats over petty issues.

Now to the other statement, for over 50 years, pilot pay has involved a formula based on weight/speed etc. for compensation. Hell, we broke that up into only 3 levels of pay at CAL years before I arrived here. It's not about how much "harder" it is to fly a 757 or even 777 than a 737(it is actually easier). It is about reaping your portion of the revenue from the flight. When you have a 280 seat aircraft with 50 Businessfirst seats to Asia, your yield is going to be higher than a domestic flight and the pilots should be compensated in a way that reflects their contribution to that revenue segment. Right or wrong, that's how the higher pay for wide body aircraft is defended at just about every airline that operates them.

I am sorry for coming across as harsh in my 1st post on this thread but it just seemed a bit crazy that SWA would let the FA's hold up the aircraft deal on what seemed like something that would be an easy transition.