SWAPA Comments about 717

[Max Powers]

Swa guys, does the company realize the angst on both sides? Do you think they'll do anything to try and smooth things over?

Angst on the swa side???? Maybe a few radicals are but, the vast majority are pretty happy with the outcome.

 

[SWA/FO]

Swa guys, does the company realize the angst on both sides? Do you think they'll do anything to try and smooth things over?

They will do nothing. They probably think, keeping everyone on the payroll is thanks enough. I wonder, how we are going to replace airframes.

 

[redflyer65]

I don't see them doing anything different. They will just point to the 83% passing vote on each side and say things are fine.

They will press forward with their business plan.

 

[Tripower455]

Angst on the swa side???? Maybe a few radicals are but, the vast majority are pretty happy with the outcome.

Yeah, it's only a few "radicals" that are upset on the SW side.......

I haven't spoke to ONE SWA person that is even remotely happy about the AT acquisition or outcome of this SLI.

The vast majority, at all seniority levels, wish it never happened.

 

[madjack]

"Were the 717 Pilots offered to DL with the 717? I thought that was in their contact that if the 717's went they went with the aircraft?"

I was told today that the AAI pilots were offerred to DL (as per ALPA frag language) but DL said no...SWA is absorbing the 717 pilots and airframes will be replaced by not retiring -300's and shopping the market for used -700...

There is a LOT going on at SWA right now....the GO and training center are in overdrive. I feel for the AAI 717 CPs who lose their seats, but there will be pain on the SWA side too (717 AAI pilots getting on the list sooner than 2015). But to think that GK is concerned about these issues with all that is on his plate is naive....we all still have jobs, the deal was done (SL10), we (the pilots agreed to it) move on...that will be managements position.

 

[humveedriver]

Angst on the swa side???? Maybe a few radicals are but, the vast majority are pretty happy with the outcome.

Dude. They had the best thing going and Gary Kelly screwed it up for them.
To a pilot they wish he had not bought us or at a minimum only the 737's, something to take M/B out of the picture. Remember. He pointed a gun at them just like he did us. Different reasons. Same result. It's hard to say our screwing was worse than your screwing to our new brothers. It is acceptable to say it to SWA management though IMO. If you read the our internal forum you know SWa management is at least listening to what we have to say. If they ignore us,well, that will be that. It will take our folks longer to move on. I have no idea what would help smooth things over for the SWA side, cause it's not like everyone is upgrading and their junior folks are about to get displaced over the next 3 years.

 

[Uppercrust]

At the very least we at Airtran need SWA pay now and possible revisit of the SLI. If not then things could get real ugly quick.

 

[shootr]

The SLI revisit won't happen. It's signed and SWAPA won't give up what we have. I TOTALLY agree you guys need to be on our pay scale, yesterday. I'd fight with you on that point and I'll picket if asked.

shootr

 

[Kermit_D_Frog]

I'd love to revisit the SLI. Let's do it.

 

[Lear70]

The SLI revisit won't happen. It's signed and SWAPA won't give up what we have. I TOTALLY agree you guys need to be on our pay scale, yesterday. I'd fight with you on that point and I'll picket if asked.

shootr

Thanks, that means a lot. Really.

Snap-up to the Pay Rates that were in AIP 1 effective immediately and a re-bid of the flush bid would be my suggestions.

Right now, contractually-speaking, Southwest does not have the option to bring people straight across the partition to 737 F/O if their equipment bid was 717. If they do, you'll end up with a grievance from every single person senior to them with a 737 F/O bid in place for the pay difference of SWA pay.

Although there is an allowance in SL10 for what happens if there is no 717 to bid into upon arrival at Southwest, the way our LOA is set up, even though it allows them to pull from whatever seat, aircraft, and base they want to come to Southwest, it does so based on the original seniority-based flush bid. Knowing that there is no 717 to bid into at Southwest, not re-bidding the flush bid will result in them KNOWINGLY pulling people out of seniority order from the 717 going to an award (737 SWA F/O) that someone senior to them at AirTran bid and held.

Knowing that they'll have to figure out something for that provision, I'm patiently waiting to hear more information, knowing that there's other portions of the 717 deal that are still contingent on passing (Delta vote, other vendor approval, etc) to where this thing may still fall apart and even if it doesn't, it will be some time before Southwest has to negotiate changes.

I'm not expecting any news in any kind of hurry. Just relaxing, enjoying my Memorial Day Weekend, and urging my fellow AirTran AND Southwest brethren to do the same. Can't fix anything and getting irritated at each other is kind of pointless, since no one on here is responsible for what's going on.

We're all just pilots; be cool to each other. :beer: