SWAPA Election?

[b747dogg]

Not trying to stir the pot, bit if I was a "Real Southwest Pilot", I would have thought he did a super bang up job. Again, just curious why he was voted out.

If nobody is happy, then it must be a fair SLI.

 

[PSL]

One person's opinion ...

I don't think SC had a snowball's chance in hell of winning given what has transpired during his tenure.

Whatever your position might be on the SLI, his communications, his financial stewardship of SWAPA, one thing is certain (for me), there is often no middle ground to hide behind to appease 50.1%.

To win another term given the history of his Presidency required the diplomacy skills of Henry Kissinger or leadership skills beyond what we have seen recently at SWAPA. One obstacle for the 'draw a line in the sand and fight to the death with the threat of burning the house down' is SWAPA's ranks are so diverse now that building an overwhelming majority to back up the threat is difficult at best and some might say impossible.

SWAPA's budget, and more specifically its spending during his and CK's Administration's, should give even the most apathetic SWA pilot a moment of pause.

If you look at the election results, one result that consistently frustrates me is voter turnout. I can't make sense of the reality that we fail to vote in near 95% numbers for elections of ELECTED OFFICIALS to lead us.

 

[NoPFactor]

What happened at the Hilton hotel? Was it the one in Vegas?

Can't be, because as we all know that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

 

[SWA Bubba]

Not trying to stir the pot, bit if I was a "Real Southwest Pilot", I would have thought he did a super bang up job. Again, just curious why he was voted out.

You're trying to put too much on him. Let's not forget that the SLI deal came about from the company, and had little to nothing to do with who was the SWAPA President (or Negotitating Committee, for that matter). It really wouldn't have mattered who was the SWAPA Prez at the time. He just got the credit from Airtran guys and the blame from Southwest guys. That's why you say he did a "super bang up job" and Southwest FOs think he "screwed them." In actuality, what he did (and in actuality, ALL he did) was manage the expectations and spin the outcome that the company decreed. For instance, you guys dislike him for his statements on the decision for the 717s going away. Chase had no input or vote on that particular business decision, and only put out a statement to try to show the positives of it to his constituents, especially the junior ones. It's his job to represent Southwest pilots, not Airtran pilots. I suspect that any SWAPA President would have put out a similar internal memo, regardless of who he or she was. His natives were restless, and he was tried to mollify them.

I think the real reason he was voted out was a combination of things, but mainly it was a bunch of internal union crank-stepping that you guys don't have too much info on. Things like communication, or lack thereof, unpopular constitutional amendments, decisions that seemed to go against the will of the majority, ever-increasing union budgets etc. (And of course, being in SWAPA when this whole SLI thing got rammed down our collective throat added a little bit of taint to the office that he happened to be sitting in. But I suspect that's the least of it).

Bubba

 

[SWA Bubba]

No, he didn't get all of us stapled or fired. Fail!

See my response above to Kharma Police. CHASE didn't get anyone anything on the SLI deal. He sat there, just like you guys did, and took what the company told him to take. (Thank you sir! May I have another!). I think you guys really know this, but maybe you're just looking for a face to blame. Try looking at a picture of Gary if that's what you're after.

Bubba

 

[Lear70]

I think the real reason he was voted out was a combination of things, but mainly it was a bunch of internal union crank-stepping that you guys don't have too much info on. Things like communication, or lack thereof, unpopular constitutional amendments, decisions that seemed to go against the will of the majority, ever-increasing union budgets etc. (And of course, being in SWAPA when this whole SLI thing got rammed down our collective throat added a little bit of taint to the office that he happened to be sitting in. But I suspect that's the least of it).

Bubba

That helps, as far as understanding the "what and why" from the outside looking in, thanks.

 

[madjack]

People that know SC describe him as a strong union guy...he was a decent president in a bad time (first SLI at SWA)...Tom Winsor (NC chair) and Mark Richardson are in the runoff...don't know much about Mark, folks that have worked at SWAPA seem to like him...I was impressed that TW did so well given that he was at the heart of the SLI process as NC chair...just .02C here...

 

[humveedriver]

Good luck to whomever wins. I think they have a pretty important task at hand. Not only will they be instrumental absorbing and educating 1700 new pilots, but they also have to preserve the best possible contract possible. I'll tell you right now, we at AT are concerned. I'm hearing Babbit's role is to break it to the SWA employee groups gently, that the good old days are over. I don't need to work for premium pay every trip. But keeping current pay rates and the TFP formula, will definetaly pay the bills at straight time.

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

This isn't your daddy's Southwest anymore, in fact it hasn't been for over a decade. Unfortunately for all involved it's just becoming more obvious to the some of employees involved now. I think it will take another negotiating cycle for the majority to see it, in the meantime, it will be all SWAPA can handle to maintain status quo.