fr8doggie
Canis Onus
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2003
- Posts
- 380
Dear SWAPA: Welcome to the Airline Industry
Fellow Pilots,
I want to take a few minutes of your time and update you on some items that have our full attention here at SWAPA. We've made it clear that SWAPA is seeking negotiated improvements in Retirement, Reserve and Compensation (RRC). Our Negotiating Committee has also made it clear to the Company that our numerous accommodations (-800 flying, codeshare with AirTran, etc.) have given Southwest Airlines the ability to enjoy record profits and a ROIC better than we have seen in 13 years. We expect to share in the financial success of our Company. Last week, we received a comprehensive economic proposal from the Company's negotiating team and their proposal included:
I can't begin to tell you how regressive I feel this latest Company offer is to our Pilot group. Next week, we will be holding a special Board of Directors meeting in Dallas with your Domicile Representatives. The purpose of this meeting is to specifically detail and discuss this economic proposal and solidify our next steps in the negotiation process.
Your growing frustration with the slow pace of negotiations is not only felt by your SWAPA leadership; national media is also beginning to notice the labor unrest that is threatening our Culture here at Southwest Airlines. This week, you may have read articles about Southwest labor negotiations in Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal. In the case of the Wall Street Journal, we sat down with their writer for a lengthy discussion, and also had a follow up phone call a few days ago. I'm not necessarily happy that the only quote that was printed after all of the time spent with them was the single word "frustrated," but it does underscore the general feeling of many SWA labor groups. I feel encouraged that this side of the story is being heard on a national level. Also this week, SWAPA had a meeting with another top-ten Southwest Airlines institutional investor and heard their mantra of "Southwest continues to leave revenue on the table." We also declared our continued desire for the growth of our airline and pointed to our industry-leading Pilot productivity.
From Monday, April 7th until April 21st, SWAPA will hold a voting referendum regarding a Constitutional change, and we ask that you please take the time to vote at SWAPA.org. Quite simply, the change to the Constitutional language better insures that we will be able to provide optimal representation to the Pilots on the AirTran side of the partition as SWAPA Pilots after the National Mediation Board (NMB) assigns SWAPA as the sole bargaining agent for these pilots. Vice President JD Stewart has an excellent article in the March Reporting Point that outlines the proposed change, and you can also get further information at SWAPA.org.
In the meantime please remain focused, professional and fly safe.
04 APR 2014
Fellow Pilots,
I want to take a few minutes of your time and update you on some items that have our full attention here at SWAPA. We've made it clear that SWAPA is seeking negotiated improvements in Retirement, Reserve and Compensation (RRC). Our Negotiating Committee has also made it clear to the Company that our numerous accommodations (-800 flying, codeshare with AirTran, etc.) have given Southwest Airlines the ability to enjoy record profits and a ROIC better than we have seen in 13 years. We expect to share in the financial success of our Company. Last week, we received a comprehensive economic proposal from the Company's negotiating team and their proposal included:
- Language that alters our current Codeshare agreement
- The introduction of a Preferential Bidding System (PBS)
- Minimal improvements to our Reserve System
- No improvements to our Retirement Program
- Sub-COLA pay raises
- Dozens of cuts to existing work rules
I can't begin to tell you how regressive I feel this latest Company offer is to our Pilot group. Next week, we will be holding a special Board of Directors meeting in Dallas with your Domicile Representatives. The purpose of this meeting is to specifically detail and discuss this economic proposal and solidify our next steps in the negotiation process.
Your growing frustration with the slow pace of negotiations is not only felt by your SWAPA leadership; national media is also beginning to notice the labor unrest that is threatening our Culture here at Southwest Airlines. This week, you may have read articles about Southwest labor negotiations in Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal. In the case of the Wall Street Journal, we sat down with their writer for a lengthy discussion, and also had a follow up phone call a few days ago. I'm not necessarily happy that the only quote that was printed after all of the time spent with them was the single word "frustrated," but it does underscore the general feeling of many SWA labor groups. I feel encouraged that this side of the story is being heard on a national level. Also this week, SWAPA had a meeting with another top-ten Southwest Airlines institutional investor and heard their mantra of "Southwest continues to leave revenue on the table." We also declared our continued desire for the growth of our airline and pointed to our industry-leading Pilot productivity.
From Monday, April 7th until April 21st, SWAPA will hold a voting referendum regarding a Constitutional change, and we ask that you please take the time to vote at SWAPA.org. Quite simply, the change to the Constitutional language better insures that we will be able to provide optimal representation to the Pilots on the AirTran side of the partition as SWAPA Pilots after the National Mediation Board (NMB) assigns SWAPA as the sole bargaining agent for these pilots. Vice President JD Stewart has an excellent article in the March Reporting Point that outlines the proposed change, and you can also get further information at SWAPA.org.
In the meantime please remain focused, professional and fly safe.
