SWA and SWAPA Negotiating -800s

[Whataburger]

Alaska Airlines - Great airline, profitable, happy employees, same pay for all 737s.

Delta Airlines - Decade of losses, bankruptcy. More pay for same type.

 

[Whataburger]

I'll give you my "The Best Pilot's deserve the Best Contract" sticker, See how that worked out for us?

I can also throw in a few ALPA stickers as well!

KBB

What's your opinion of Bulleit?

 

[Full of LUV]

Wow...

Alaska Airlines - Great airline, profitable, happy employees, same pay for all 737s.

Delta Airlines - Decade of losses, bankruptcy. More pay for same type.

You really believe that is an apples to apples comparison? If you don't want different pay for different A/C, why not just negotiate an incremental pay increase for all as the 800's replace the smaller planes? Something that is spread around all the pilots that represents the additional revenue that means increased productivity.
Luv

 

[wscrj]

Alaska Airlines - Great airline, profitable, happy employees, same pay for all 737s.

Delta Airlines - Decade of losses, bankruptcy. More pay for same type.

What on earth gave you the impression that Alaska pilots, or employees for that matter, are happy?

Furloughs on the street
Staffing cut to the bone marrow
Nearly all trades denied
Sick use hate-o-grams from Company & CP's office
Management types actually posting "look for a new career" if we don't like the way things are.

Oh yeah, and 80 some over 60 types with 93 guys on the street.

Who exactly did you speak with when you formulated the opinion that we are happy?

 

[GuppyWN]

The cappy and the FO on the SEA/OAK flight last week seemed happy. All they could talk about was the extra flying they were doing!

Gup

 

[Hobiehawker]

Why would any airline pilot accept more responsibly without additional compensation?

 

[wscrj]

The cappy and the FO on the SEA/OAK flight last week seemed happy. All they could talk about was the extra flying they were doing!

Gup

Sadly Gup, we have more than our fair share of those types.

 

[murano]

Why would any airline pilot accept more responsibly without additional compensation?

Because we have a lot of koolaid drinkers who are just "happy to be here" and "would do this job for free".

We need to get SOMETHING out of the -800s. If they keep the payrate the same, we have to up the duty rigs and / or retirement. How about some pay for those damn plane swaps. They will go through the roof once the -800s come on the property. And you can kiss your growth goodbye. Gary can grow the airline by 25% for the next 5-10 years without adding a single pilot. Keep flying them weekends and holidays boys! But at least you'll have a shiny new BIG jet to fly.

 

[chase]

my $.02

Since the -800 announcement I've asked my FO's (probably 12+) prior to expressing my thoughts what they desired for approving of the -800 buy.

1. All but one FO agreed, -700 for -800 swap...one for one. No reduction in overall plan to bring AC on board.

2. No change to pay structure. More money immediately from -800s is not the objective; adding to the bottom line and increasing revenue in order to promote adding more airplanes and in turns new hires. They all acknowledge their biggest pay raise will come from getting to the left seat; adding -800s with no further pilot costs promotes that QOL improvement and quicker upgrade.

3. Rig changes; minor issue but worth exploring. If in doubt, refer to rule #2.

Interesting to hear those sentiments so strongly (unscientific as they may be) but clearly the junior I flew with trust the company to put the emphasis on growth if the revenue targets GK has put out there are achieved. No guarantees but to these FOs this is a better plan than merely waiting for retirements to begin or waiting for incidental fees to increase in order to meet revenue targets.

27% increase in revenue "potential" is a carrot worth pursuing in their view.

I would tend to agree with. BTW, I couldn't imagine flying with better FOs than the ones I fly with....totally professional with other employee groups, upbeat (19 out of 20ish) and positive toward passengers....also, very competent flyers who teach me something nearly every trip...thanks to you all for making it fun after nearly 11 yrs still.

 

[Dash Power]

Chase,

Aren't you just wonderful.

I must admit I drink some of the flavors of the koolaid. But you drink them all.

Pull your head out of your a$$ and see how your post displays how self indulgent you are (my FO's) and how you are supporting the continued backslide of this entire pilot profession by allowing the company to take advantage of our passion and vulnerability with being an airline pilot.

They will let us do this job for free if we allow them!

Growing the airline is not dependent on how much we give back or give in. It is purely based on the demand of our product. When we recover fully from this recession, this and most all airlines will grow.

This continued attitude is just killing this profession.