SWA contract amendable- no pay raise?

[firstthird]

Oh yes, the horror of paying for parking. I'm sure that I'm a bad person but I see the parking issue through the lens of total compensation. Traditionally, anything the pilots negotiate (401K, duty hour rigs) later on get thrown into all the other work groups contracts. Which is fine and as it should be. But with that history, how much is the 35 dollars a month really worth? I'd rather have more hard pay and less socialistic baby sitting. We don't get a uniform allowance either. If we got parking and a uniform allowance; it would mean less hard money. The company cares about cost per employee, not how we get it. Some guys don't use parking (public transport) and if we got a uniform allowance, we'd all feel the need to use all of it every year, even if our uniforms were in good condition.

So, if your company pays your parking, I'm happy for you. I'm also happy that my company does not. I had about all I could take of the paternalistic, we make sure you are provided for in all areas, crap in the military and surely don't need it at SWA.

There are definitely some pilots here that get fired up about it. 'Dallas guys get to park at the GO for free. It isn't fair.' No it isn't, they also get to have the crappiest relative seniority in the system and more than their share of texas two step days. Fair trade in my book.

 

[Saabslime]

Sorry, but when a company makes you pay to park where you work, that's just plain a$$ cheap no matter how you slice it. And even McDonalds provides a uniform for their employees at no cost......

 

[FlyBarneyJets]

...the only reason you're not hurting right now is their smarts. And you will thank them for your good fortune by sitting on what you got till the hedges fully unwind and the company starts taking it up the arz.

This thing will drag on for years, cuz that's just the way things work in this business. SWAPA has prided itself in being able to work with mgt over the years, but this membership is not your fathers membership. It's picked up a ton of newly hired sourpusses the last 5 years from other airlines that are union hardasses.

Wait until they drop the 100 seat rate bomb on you guys. The word adversarial will be on the tip of everyone's tongue at that pt.

imp:

You haven't a single clue. That's obvious.

Sure, our management is smart. But I've got news for you. Their smarts keeps our employees interested in coming to work. Without the employees we have who are willing to work as hard as they do, this company is just another airline...even WITH smart management. Pilots are included. Show me another group of pilots with so many within its rank-and-file that routinely (and voluntarily) time out every month.

Most of the newly-hired here have an attitude similar to those who've gone before them. Being that you DON'T WORK FOR THIS AIRLINE, how can you judge our pilot group's attitude?

There. I've fed the troll. Maybe he'll leave us alone for a good long while.

 

[OffHot]

Sorry, but when a company makes you pay to park where you work, that's just plain a$$ cheap no matter how you slice it. And even McDonalds provides a uniform for their employees at no cost......

So I guess a pay cut is a much better solution. Based on your banner you work for US AIR or one of its regional affiliates, give me a break. I agree, I'll pay for my parking and work for a company that lives up to the contract we signed.

 

[Flycatcher99]

1. You are wrong. The "we need a raise" guys are an extreme minority, and not even a vocal one. I've yet to meet one on line.

I'll jump on the lowecur dogpile by seconding the comment above. Lowecur, you're completely oblivious to the reality at SWA if you think you can so obtusely stereotype the pilots here. I have yet to fly with one (1) captain who has said that we need to negotiate a raise. Every person I have met would be completely content to continue status quo, compensation-wise. A continued small COL increase is the most that I've heard bandied about, just as we have now.

And for your second stereotyping comment regarding the "tons" of sourpusses that SWA has hired, this just goes to show the depths of your ignorance. I suppose you mean that many of our hires are spoiled furloughees from other carriers. First of all, there are not that many furloughees here, but of the ones I've met, they are thankful for a job, and not just a job, but one of the most enviable ones in the industry. Second, you discount the true majority of our hires, who are either military folk who are certainly not molded in the vain of "sourpuss", or ex-commuter pilots, who have traditionally worked at places that didn't value them or treat them well, comparatively speaking, so they are thankful to be at a place who cares so well for them.

You really put your foot in your mouth with this post.

 

[Saabslime]

So I guess a pay cut is a much better solution

Are you telling me that SWA is in such bad financial health that for the company to provide employee parking would necessitate a pay cut?! You sir give ME a break!

 

[Purpled]

Are you telling me that SWA is in such bad financial health that for the company to provide employee parking would necessitate a pay cut?! You sir give ME a break!

No, what he is telling you is that he'd rather have 50 bucks vs. a 50 dollar parking voucher.

 

[Dangerkitty]

Maybe you guys can negotiate to have the company pay for employee parking. I was just on the employee bus and there's a big notice for SWA employees to fill out the form to have parking fees deducted from your paycheck........... What a joke

Yeah, I would rather work for your company and have my parking paid for vs flying for SWA and paying $30 a month in parking fees that are tax deductible.

Lets see: Getting paid well over six figures, having the best benefits in the industry and having to pay for my own parking.

OR: Getting paid slave labor wages, having terrible benefits and having my parking paid for.

Yeah it's a no brainer Saabslime's company is the better chocie.

 

[OffHot]

Are you telling me that SWA is in such bad financial health that for the company to provide employee parking would necessitate a pay cut?! You sir give ME a break!

No what I am telling you is that I dont care about parking fees. Maybe that is what you must bargin for because your company has dictated everything else of importance to you. Either by threats of BR or by some judge who thinks he understands our business. I dont wish regression by anyone in this industry, it hurts us all, but to flame on SWA about uniforms or parking, when other pilots would just be happy to quit taking paycuts is absurd. We dont have the perfect contract, we know that, that is why we decided to open section 6, but it also isn't that bad. I'm sure with your contract, paid parking and uniform expenses, is much better than ours, so we now have something to model our new one after.

 

[TexaSWA]

Are you telling me that SWA is in such bad financial health that for the company to provide employee parking would necessitate a pay cut?! You sir give ME a break!

If your negotiation comittee is going to waste time on something as trivial as parking fees, it is because they are unable to get anything of any real value and are grasping at straws trying to look as if they have some control over the outcome.

How does one segway from negotiating the intricacies of a multi million dollar 401k and profit sharing fund, to $30 a month to pay for parking. I dont think it can be done with a straight face.

Its the difference between Baccarat and nikel slots.

Im sure its hard to understand from the point of reference of a commuter pilot, but hopefully you'll get a chance to understand one day.