SWA FA news..

[MLBWINGBORN]

This may speed up things in order to start the growth weve all been waiting for..

Southwest Seeks Federal Mediation in TWU Negotiations Posted on Wed, 09/10/03 17:21

Southwest Airlines announced today that we have requested the assistance of the National Mediation Board to conclude negotiations and reach a new contract with TWU Local 556, which represents our 7,200 Flight Attendants.
“We are committed to negotiating a new contract which recognizes the unparalleled excellence of the Flight Attendants of Southwest Airlines,” said CEO and Vice Chairman Jim Parker. “Unfortunately, it no longer appears that this is possible without outside assistance. This is why we have requested the assistance of the National Mediation Board.”
Southwest expects the National Mediation Board to appoint a Mediator, who will establish a schedule and ground rules for future negotiating sessions. “After 16 months of negotiations, we are anxious to reach an agreement and believe the National Mediation Board will expedite this matter,” Jim said.

Mike

 

[Bill Nelson]

Here is a list of the articles and their status in the negotiations. Compensation, insurance, and retirement are the three main things left. I don't think that they are "miles apart" on these issues and they will probably be agreed upon soon. Neither side wants to give more than they have already offered, but I bet money that they come to an agreement before the holidays. (The flight attendants realize that they can hurt the bottom line of the company during the holidays, but they also realize that only hurts their bottom line for this years profit sharing)


copied from Maestro: (last update)

Contract Negotiations Update #9 Posted on Mon, 06/16/03 07:06
Updated on Mon, 06/16/03 07:15
The following chart is an update regarding Inflight contract negotiations. As you will see, we have tentatively agreed on 29 articles including the Preamble. We will update you as we continue to make progress.

Articles:
Agreement Date / Opened

Date

Preamble
11/26/02

Art. 1
Nondiscrimination
05/23/02

Art. 2
Purpose of Agreement
11/26/02

Art. 3
Scope of Agreement
08/22/02

Art. 4
Status of Agreement
09/12/02

Art. 5
Definitions

Art. 6
Seniority
11/22/02

Art. 7
Probation Period
06/27/02

Art. 8
Hours of Service
06/13/03

Art. 9
Additional Flying
03/26/03

Art. 10
Scheduling
04/25/03

Art. 11
Reserve
04/03/03

Art. 12
Exchange of Trips
06/13/03

Art. 13
Uniforms
11/08/02

Art. 14
Vacations
04/04/03

Art. 15
Leave of Absence
04/17/03

Art. 16
Sick Leave/On The Job Injury
06/02/03

Art. 17
Medical Examinations
11/26/02

Art. 18
Reduction in Force
07/11/02

Art. 19
Grievance Procedures
10/28/02

Art. 20
Board of Adjustment
10/08/02

Art. 21
Compensation

Art. 22
Expenses
(open)

Art. 23
Insurance Benefits

Art. 24
General and Miscellaneous
06/07/02

Art. 25
Health and Safety
11/08/02

Art. 26
Union Security

Art. 27
General - Union Information
06/13/03

Art. 28
Scheduling Policy
04/24/03

Art. 29
Domiciles
07/12/02

Art. 30
Profit Sharing and Retirement

Art. 31
Savings Clause
06/13/03

Art. 32
Duration and Termination

Art. 33
Attendance Policy
04/07/03

Art. 34
Charters
04/02/03

Art. 35
Training
(open)

Art. 36
Commuter Policy
08/29/02

 

[thebluto]

Wild Turkey Won't Do?

I guess Herb can't just walk into a board room with a couple bottles of whiskey and sort it out like they did with the pilot contract 10 years ago.

 

[thebluto]

MORE INFO

More info is available on:

http://local556.twuatd.org/

under Mediation Q&A

 

[canyonblue]

TO: All Flight Attendants

FROM: Jim Parker

SUBJECT: Company Compensation Proposal of 7/16/03

==============================================

Since representatives of TWU Local 556 have apparently chosen to make selective disclosures concerning the Company's most recent compensation proposal, I wanted to provide you with the real numbers.

Attached is a chart, by which each Flight Attendant can see what their TFP rates would be from May 31, 2002 through May 31, 2008, under the Company's actual proposal, including both annual seniority step increases and contract rate increases. To find your rates, locate your year of seniority as of 5/31/02 in the left hand column. Then read straight across to see what your pay rate was on May 31, 2002 (under the old contract); what it would be as of June 1, 2002; what it would be on June 1, 2003; June 1, 2004; etc.

For example, a 5th year Flight Attendant on May 31, 2002 received a TFP rate of $21.48 ($24.47/hr), under the old contract, which would be increased (with full retro pay) to $22.98 ($26.18/hr) as of June 1, 2002. On June 1, 2003, his or her TFP rate would become $24.14 ($27.50/hr). By the end of the contract, on May 31, 2008, his or her rate would be $35.51 ($40.45/hr), a 65.3% increase from the current rate of $21.48 ($24.47/hr).

This offer was presented to the Union's Negotiating Committee on July 16, 2003. In addition, the Company offered full retro pay to June 1, 2002; offered to increase our Flight Attendants' per diem payto an industry-leading $2.15 an hour (equal to our Pilots' per diem); to reduce the time to topout from 17 years to 15 years; and to continue our industry-leading 7.3% 401(K) match. The total value of this compensation package (including trip pay, per diem, and 401(K) match) would exceed any other Flight Attendant contract in the airlineindustry. We have also agreed to numerous other contract enhancementswhich would improve our Flight Attendants' quality of life.

These are the real numbers proposed by the Company, which I wanted you to have access to, so that you may base your opinions on facts, rather than speculation.

Thanks for continuing to be the best group of Flight Attendants in the world, and contributing so mightily to the success of Southwest Airlines.

At the end of the contract in 2008 a 15 year F/A would be at $53.39/hr