SWAPA calls all former AirTran pilots

[texman]

The problem is a arbitration will never come. The reason why is you can't force arbitration if the sub doesn't merge into swa. If so AM/BM will apply, not nervous here.

 

[dicko]

Your right dicko. It went from a tax shell to a new llc. Post merger transaction. So we end up with what CO had with express jet. This is out of swapa control.

I think you misunderstood me. I can't see any change in the process from the Sep 26 document with regard to the LLC. It's the same plan.

What's changed ?

 

[texman]

I think you misunderstood me. I can't see any change in the process from the Sep 26 document with regard to the LLC. It's the same plan.

What's changed ?

The reason I brought all this up, is the LLC will not be part of our Ops. It will be separate for a long time. So what is the point of a SLI. All I see is a merger of AT into a sub LLC that has no planes or crew.

So all this talk on FI is pointless.

 

[formerdal]

You guys are absolutely ridiculous! Southwest is one sharp operator (no I do not work there) they aren't going to create a subsidiary where all the pilots are pissed off and therefore jeopardize their operation.

Airtran WILL get merged into your operation and there will be some equitable SLI. To think otherwise is lunacy!

Good luck children.

 

[FIREMAN]

Laura Wright– Southwest Airlines Co. – SVP Finance and CFO
Okay, so the question I think was how we see the Company evolving post-AirTran over the next two to three years.
Certainly, AirTran is going to be our significant — it's going to be a significant effort for us.
When we close, we anticipate we will have two separate airlines, but over time we will transition into one airline, one brand, one product. That's probably going to take two to three years.
We are very excited about the acquisition because we think AirTran brings a lot of things to Southwest. Certainly, Atlanta was an important, important piece to us. It's an airport that has limited access, and AirTran has a great presence there.
With Atlanta, we're going to be able to do a lot more with the rest of the Southwest network. For example, there's a lot of cities that AirTran doesn't serve out of Atlanta where Southwest has a huge presence. So we see opportunities there.
AirTran gives us more access to some places we couldn't get into, like Washington Reagan, so we're going to be picking up some flight activity there. It also allows us to grow our presence at New York LaGuardia with the slots that they have.
So, but I think for you to think about bigger picture is we will have a larger network. We will have more cities and the value that you get when you bring those together is exponential. We think we will be able to tap some markets, combined, between the two networks that neither of us would have been able to do alone.

 

[redflyer65]

Three years to merger the companies and the list.

The arbitor will take that long. Look at the F9/Republic award.
Wait, it's not out yet.

Plus fences beyond that. I imagine the fences will last as long as the 717 leases. Zero extra training cost. Can you say 'synergies'?

 

[Lear70]

Three years to merger the companies and the list.

I'd rather it DIDN'T take that long to realize the cost savings of combined operations, strictly for the financial benefit of the company, but if it does, it does. I'm not going to worry about something I don't have the ability to change, life's too short for that.

This is all a moot point, anyway. In truth, our Merger Committee is COMPLETELY AUTONOMOUS, independent even from the AirTran ALPA leadership. They've been appointed and they act as they see fit in conjunction with attorney input.

Subsequently, arguing with each other on here does absolutely zero good to affect what happens at the table.

 

[ivauir]

This is all a moot point, anyway. In truth, our Merger Committee is COMPLETELY AUTONOMOUS, independent even from the AirTran ALPA leadership. They've been appointed and they act as they see fit in conjunction with attorney input.

Lear,

How can they be autonomous with ALPA leadership at the meetings?

 

[climbhappy]

yep, it's fine and well and good and makes no sense to argue about it, but

telling pilots on here not to argue is like telling your dog not to lick his balls.

 

[Lear70]

Lear,

How can they be autonomous with ALPA leadership at the meetings?

The entire leadership cadre isn't there for all the meetings, just one at this point, and from the way the committee is structured, he can give "thoughts and input", but has no actual say in what the committee decides to do.

It would take an MEC vote to change that power setup and the political fallout over changing it at this point would *NOT* be pretty. You'd likely see new MEC leadership appointed that would make the MC autonomous again. People here feel pretty strongly about not allowing the MEC Leadership to meddle with the MC. We have elections ongoing for two new base LEC's (MKE and MCO) and that's a recurring them for candidates: "How do you feel about the MC and do you support leaving them autonomous?"

yep, it's fine and well and good and makes no sense to argue about it, but

telling pilots on here not to argue is like telling your dog not to lick his balls.

Funny... and true.

:beer:

 

[Bob Dylan]

Come on Lear, pull your head out of your butt.

You're being played. Who benefits if this deal causes turmoil within the company?

 

[ivauir]

autonomy - immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence

If MEC members are in the room providing "thoughts and input" your MC is not autonomous.

 

[Cometman]

pull your head out of your butt.

You're being played. Who benefits if this deal causes turmoil within the company?[/QUOTE]

Becareful Bob, you will be banned. When somebody has their head that far up it is impossible to pull it out.

 

[Lear70]

Becareful Bob, you will be banned. When somebody has their head that far up it is impossible to pull it out.

After your "colorful" and completely inaccurate PM rants the last couple weeks, I see you still haven't found any rational reason to sling mud at me, yet continue to do so. Well done.

autonomy - immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence

If MEC members are in the room providing "thoughts and input" your MC is not autonomous.

Yes, the MC is autonomous. Just because someone is present to give their opinion doesn't mean that person has any "authority". Although LH is a de-facto member of EVERY committee by ALPA bylaws, he holds no special place of power on any such committee.

I've flown with 2 of our MC members for over a decade, and have known one of your own MC members just as long (we were all at a prior company together). I know them to be level-headed folks who will do the best they can to come to a reasonable agreement.

Beyond that, I'm just not commenting, no matter how many digs people make.

 

[Flying the Line]

I find it interesting that no one has brought up the fact that Skywest bought Express Jet and merged them into ASA, which did not force the Skywest pilots into SLI with a company they bought. The similarities are there with Guadalupe.

 

[redflyer65]

Because nobody wants to believe that's a possiblity. But the reality is it could happen if Gary wants to pull that ripcord.

I get the impression that the ALPA guys are grasping at straws by wanting to meet with SW management. I don't blame them for asking, but they are doing all they can to get into the transition agreement and it ain't gonna happen.

 

[humveedriver]

I find it interesting that no one has brought up the fact that Skywest bought Express Jet and merged them into ASA, which did not force the Skywest pilots into SLI with a company they bought. The similarities are there with Guadalupe.

I sorta brought it up in another thread, about keeping us seperate. The SWA guys said that they are protected by their contract. They said that if AirTran is operated seperate, SWA has to basically add 4 aircraft to SWA for everyone 1 aircraft added to AT. That covers growth. But it doesn't stop them from doing this;

Keeping Airtran seperate (working under the AT labor contracts) and restructuring our flying. In other words, sending the 717 to DAL and OAK to do shorthaul flying. HOLY COW! DAL is senior! SWA wouldn't displace their top 10% of the seniority list. Would they? Keeping the same 52 AirTran 737's and making them the international fleet. They are configured differently in the cabin and flight deck.. we are cerftified to do Cat III using autoland and not the HUD. These are the reasons I don't just freak out say "SWA just bought.. I won the lottery". The real offer isn't on the table yet. I don't know what SWA plans are. In addition to that, I think the DOJ looks at a larger airlines purchasing smaller airlines with the intent of somehow elimanating that competition. So my enthusiam for the deal will depend alot on what the BOD see's, the DOJ see's, and ultimately how the SWA management really intends on using the new toy they are buying.

 

[frqntflyr]

Just a quick thought...An arbitrator is not capable of making UNIQUE judgments such as pay protection, special bases, etc...

 

[S3sundowner]

Humvee, I think that the intent is to fully integrate the two operations. However, swa management is also very aware of the pitfalls of this business, and hence, will protect what they now have. If airtran, as a company, comes over nicely and happily, it should be a good ride.

 

[roughneck]

An arbitrator is not capable of making UNIQUE judgments such as pay protection, special bases, etc...

That is true but they will take the acquiring parties (SWA) requests and will build the award accordingly. Fair and equitable has already been taken care of with the huge contract windfall that every AirTran pilot will receive and if all AirTran pilots are in Atlanta for the rest of their careers then they retain exactly what they brought to the table.