Let me start by applauding the F9 group for standing up for the profession. Evidently, SWAPA doesn't respect the profession if it's exercised outside of SWA.
Let's get this straight. SWAPA rejected a TA with a raise because of other non-economic issues like scope, but they're smart. FAPA rejects this "proposal" from SWAPA on similar grounds and they're idiots? Got it.
If SWAPA and/or SWA Mgt. had offered a on or two year job protection provision, do you think that would have made a difference? It's been widely discussed by more than one SWA employee that SWA is fat about 300 pilots, depending on whose numbers you use. There are 5900+ pilots at SWA. There are about 600 at F9 with some on furlough, not including Lynx. F9 is 10% of WN. Well within normal ranges of historical furlough numbers, excluding APA/AMR. Why do you care what they think? F9 is puny. SWA paid $130M for Morris in 1993 for 21 airplanes. I don't know how big SWA was at the time, but it was a BIG purchase. SWA was doubling in size every five years up to that point. A similar upgrade time was assured. I was always told that Herb would never buy another airline, based on his experience with it. My how times change.
Which brings me to the historical SWA corporate culture. SWA was built on an "Us vs. Them" mentality. Read "Nuts" and other books on the subject. Methinks that the "Us" is now the "Them." "They" think that they can dictate to all others what their value is, which is beneath a SWA pilot. AMR, TWA, UAL, DAL, PAA, EAL all were at, or near, the top of the heap. SWA is there now. SWAPA doesn't respect the profession. Therefore the profession is dead. You're pawns in the arrogant fight over "who's number one."
No one can predict the future, especially pilots. Anyone remember UAL circa 2000? Followed by DAL with "UAL +?" Where are they now? DAL had never furloughed before either, and they'd been around longer than SWA. As far as what will happen to F9 with RAH, or anyone else, no one knows. If the pilots of all the airlines under RAH negotiate one list with seat/base/pay protections, then they might just pull something off. I'm horrible at predicting the future, (hence my present position) and I bet all of you are no better or worse.
Good luck or get out.
