This is nice:
May 21, 2012
Fellow AirTran Pilots,
This morning, the Delta MEC ratified a tentative agreement for a new collective bargaining agreement, which includes pay rates for the Boeing 717. Let me stress that as of today, your MEC has not been told of any specific plan to retire the B717 early. Nonetheless, we are extremely cognizant of the negative ramifications of such a scenario to our pilots; including a potential loss of captain seats, serious financial harm and the possibility that pilots who bid the B717 to avoid commuting could find themselves becoming commuters in a very challenging environment.
For our new Company, which is working diligently to meet its return on investment targets, it is probably easy math to see the economic advantage of retiring the B717 ahead of the B737 “classics.” What is less obvious is the impact such a move would have on the morale of our pilots, and the culture of the airline.
For the past several weeks, my fellow MEC officers, as well as your status representatives, have been hearing from a broad spectrum of pilots who express they are feeling as something less than a full Southwest employee. Management has informed us that they have heard you as well.
It is our expectation that Southwest leadership recognizes that if a deal is reached to retire the B717s before 2015 the world will look very different to our pilots than the one they were expecting after the seniority integration agreement was ratified.
While getting rid of the B717s and moving back to a single fleet-type may be a smart business move, should the transaction take place, we cannot accept that once again, it would be the AirTran pilots who will shoulder the burden exclusively.
We believe that Mr. Kelly and his team, unlike other airline managements, value the sacrifices that we have already made, and will do what is right. If they find a deal to retire the B717 quickly, the facts on the ground will have changed with regard to the SIA, and not by our doing. Should this occur, be assured that your MEC will be engaging with management to mitigate the negative impact to our members.
To reiterate, as of today, we do not have information of a deal to retire the B717 ahead of what is outlined in the transition agreement.
I’ll see you at the airport.
Fly safe,
Capt. Jim Morris, Chairman
ATN Master Executive Council
Sorry, but when the CEO tells you he's going to get rid of an airframe before you vote, you might want to consider that it could or will happen.