SWA took one step closer to being a regional carrier

[Hose A. Jiminez]

If you really think the grass is greener at Fed ex.....or any place else, then don't let the door hit you the %$$#@@

The grass at FedEx may be greener but you'll never see it because it is perpetually night time.

 

[RedBelly]

You gotta be kidding, right? Are you that hell bent on SWA that you think FedEX is a bad place. Give a rest dude.

I think you misunderstood me.... FedEx is a great place. My intention was to say that 7S3W7A needs to leave SWA by any means possible. However, since it seems he is not actually employed by SWA, that would be difficult. My apologies if you thought I was slamming FedEx in any way.

 

[TexaSWA]

We just implemented our new work rule changes...

Broken language. Its a test with a predetermined re-vote date.

 

[Flopgut]

hyperbole

I thought hyperbole was my word? Lots of SWA folks on this thread...Let me ask: Do you even claim SWA/FO as one of your own?

 

[SWA/FO]

whatever dude...... you must be a HOMO hanging on ever single word I type. How about hyperTOOL as your word.

 

[Mr Hat]

The grass at FedEx may be greener but you'll never see it because it is perpetually night time.

Lol!
Why is it a stretch to call SW a regional? It is a regional in definition of what kind of flying it does. It also happens to be the best airline in the country. Just because most regionals fly RJ's and have work rules/pay less than Southwest doesn't mean Southwest doesn't do the same kind of flying I do in my sleek Emb145XR (sarcasm added for effect). The only real difference in physical flying aspect is the transcons.
Even if you lost some days off, which is a bummer your still better off than most. As stated earlier, you still haven't been added to the long list of pilots who took 10-20% pay cuts. Seems like every company is trying to get PSB lately. Good luck guys. I know you'll come to a conclusion that is in the best interest of everyone.

 

[SWA/FO]

Why is it a stretch to call SW a regional?

I guess you could call every airline a regional.

 

[RJ_Driver]

I think you misunderstood me.... FedEx is a great place. My intention was to say that 7S3W7A needs to leave SWA by any means possible. However, since it seems he is not actually employed by SWA, that would be difficult. My apologies if you thought I was slamming FedEx in any way.

Understood. Thanks for the word and no offense taken. (I don't even work for them, but thanks for being polite.)

 

[Tripower455]

IMHO, the company made a huge mistake with this letter. By using more guys for more days a month, they get rid of a little of the open time, but also have less guys to work the open time that is left over. The "win win" situation is to rig all flying, and pay a minimum for showing up for work.

My J.A. phone has rung more in the last 3 weeks than it has in the last 10 years.

 

[Mr Hat]

I guess you could call every airline a regional.

Now your thinkin!

 

[GuppyWN]

7s3w7a, You Do Realize That You Are Talking About February, Which Is A 28 Day Month? If This Were A 31 Day Month The Min Days Off Would Be 16.

gup

 

[DH2WN]

..................We'll wait until March to pass judgement then. For now I feel duped by our union.

 

[chase]

7S3W7A & dh2wn ,

I won't defend or attack the folks who worked to put it together....it is what it is....less than 40% of the folks voted...are the non-voters culparable also? Yes but again it gets to finger pointing & that doesn't do any good in my view.

Feb is a bit of anomally but my phone too has been ringing off the hook..I've just ignored it since I was sick the last few days. Can the union do better? You bet & the NC will look very closely at how this goes down & to listen to the membership....it will be "hard data" for the first time on what works & what doesn't (again a very short test period). It ain't perfect (nor permanent) & it won't ever be but an effort is being made to get to the right solution....one step back & two forward still means one step back....lets see if the two steps forward occurs & things improve....if they don't then let your voice be heard to your domicile rep & go from there. It takes no skill to destroy a house, it takes a lot of skill to build one (properly).....the union & the Company wants your thoughts/ideas on how to build a better house.

I hope I haven't come across as negative toward you voicing your complaints...they are indeed valid & shared by many (I agree with some also)...lets hope over the test period of 8-9 months we find a solution that benefits as many as possible....back to my cold medicine....cheers,

 

[Jim Smyth]

Southwest has always prided itself on being productive and rewarding those who want to fly more. The rules have been changed temporally to see if we can be more productive as a whole since flight times are historically down from where they used to be. Thats the way it is and always will be. Southwest is always looking for better ways to run our business profitably. February is a real short month with only 28 days. If you are that upset I suggest you look elsewhere for employment that will make you happier! There are plenty of guys that would Love to have your seat.

 

[DH2WN]

7S3W7A & dh2wn ,

I won't defend or attack the folks who worked to put it together....it is what it is....less than 40% of the folks voted...are the non-voters culparable also? Yes but again it gets to finger pointing & that doesn't do any good in my view.

Feb is a bit of anomally but my phone too has been ringing off the hook..I've just ignored it since I was sick the last few days. Can the union do better? You bet & the NC will look very closely at how this goes down & to listen to the membership....it will be "hard data" for the first time on what works & what doesn't (again a very short test period). It ain't perfect (nor permanent) & it won't ever be but an effort is being made to get to the right solution....one step back & two forward still means one step back....lets see if the two steps forward occurs & things improve....if they don't then let your voice be heard to your domicile rep & go from there. It takes no skill to destroy a house, it takes a lot of skill to build one (properly).....the union & the Company wants your thoughts/ideas on how to build a better house.

I hope I haven't come across as negative toward you voicing your complaints...they are indeed valid & shared by many (I agree with some also)...lets hope over the test period of 8-9 months we find a solution that benefits as many as possible....back to my cold medicine....cheers,

Chase,

First, I hope you aren't lumping me in with that 7s3w7a guy. I'm not angry and I still love this place. I'm in the group who attempted to understand the language of 31 and was told certain things by my dom. rep. He said 1 in 10 would lose a day off. I don't know about the Feb. thing because I haven't been here long enough but right now I've lost 2 days and over 500 a month in pay. I read the thing over and over and determined I need a law degree to understand it. For the hundred of thousands of dollars we pay our union guys each year you think they would put out a easy to read pamphlet about the side letter.

What should have been done is the union put out a mock schedule so we can see exactly what was going to happen. I feel like they were hiding things from us so it would pass as a test. Maybe I've been tainted by all the captains I fly with because I haven't met anyone yet who trusts our union leadership. Yet for all their complaints only 30% voted! That's terrible...

I'm willing to give it the benefit of doubt but if March shows 13 days off I'm not going to be happy because I will have lost money and time off.

What happened to fixing daily productivity instead of monthly? Why am I sitting around in some airport for 2 hours when everyone screams productivity? Why are there trips built with less than 7 hours of flying each day when we are worried about productivity?

 

[pilotyip]

DH2WN, if you have the answers to SWA productivity, you should go into manamgment and restore the status quo. BTW management gets about 8-9 days a month off.

 

[DH2WN]

DH2WN, if you have the answers to SWA productivity, you should go into manamgment and restore the status quo. BTW management gets about 8-9 days a month off.

I didn't know management spends the rest of their month away from home 24 hours a day like we do. Wow....8 days off and being away for 24 hours a day. Sucks for them, eh?

 

[airlinepilot]

PBS is a NON STARTER

PBS is NOT what we want at SWA. It will take away all the freedom we have to change our schedule, make more money and will change the vacation system as we know it. I have used PBS at another carrier and I can tell you that all the trips are given out and there is no room for change. We have lived with overlap problems and still get the job done each month. I think everyone will agree that at SWA you have the ability to expand your vacation, or change your schedule thru ELITT, giveaway or trade and you also have the option of making lots more money.....PBS makes sure all the trips are assigned, not overlap problems and it will make sure you get off the day before your vacation starts. PBS would turn our current system upside down.......the only ones that would be happy with PBS are the top 20 percent. PSB is not what we need in any shape or form.

 

[DH2WN]

If they want PBS then they should have it useable in mock up form so we can use it before implementing it. I won't vote for any changes unless we can see it first hand before it affects us.

 

[pilotyip]

You chose the life style, are you envious?

DH2WN you chose the airline pilot life style, anyone can fly an airplane, although SWA is tuff to get in with and there is an element of luck and timing which often is greater than skill and desire, you are lucky to be at SWA. If you envy management you need to go into management. I miss being a line pilot; I really do not have anywhere near the free time I did when I flew the line at other airlines. I have not restored a car in 8 years, I am lucky to keep one student in my airplane, and my flying on the weekends for the museum really straps my free time. I had much more quality time at home when I was a line pilot.