Brakes Set

The road shows that were put on by SWA and ATN ALPA talked about all the classes would have pilots from each aircraft, each seat and every base. The agreement was then voted on by the membership a few days later. SWA was very vocal that our bid could not be changed that would follow. It was either stay on the 717 A/C as CA and FO OR SWA 737 FO. 48 hours after the bid closed , SWA told us they were not going to put out the transition classes for seniority bid as explained to us in the Road Shows.

When the first class to transition over "the partition" was put out for "bid" only the very small number of pilots on the 737 based in Orlando were allowed to bid. Just another stab at the meaning of seniority. All bids following were very limited in the same manner. The last bid just last week was a bit different. They put out an eligible to bid list which was all the AirTran 737 pilots in all 3 bases. However, SWA was not allowing seniority to dictate. They were only allowing 737 MKE based pilots to go. Why did they even put out the eligibility list? It was all 737 pilots who bid SWA 737 FO and not to go back to 717 CA/FO back in November.

Does SWA do this normally? Just for argument, if the 787 was brought to SWA how would it be put out for bid? Say it paid 300/240 per hour. Would SWA tell the pilots only those in BWI are allowed to bid. Then, only OAK based pilots?

There are many pilots who have had enough of the lousy schedules the last several months and the pay cuts the last 1 plus year and are ready to start a new life in the right seat after 15 or 16 years in the left seat.

Do the SWA folks see why moral is so bad over at AirTran? Forget what happened to them on the SLI. Now, the schedules continue to get worse. Many senior folks have lost around 20 or 30 thousand year to date compared to the last 2 or 3 years. Many want the seniority they have earned - honored just once. To see guys continue to get to go ahead of them that have been here only a few years is a poke in the eye.

Rolf

If SWA didn't follow what was agreed upon, you guys should absolutely grieve it. What does Airtran ALPA have to say? And on the same note, any news from the recent AALPA/SWA meeting?

V169

I'm not sure what was promised in the road show but in Section D of SL-10 there is a blanket statement that the transition will be "based on the operational needs" of SWA which the company seems to be employing to micro-manange the seat/base composition of each class. Hopefully the transition classes will start cranking up again in the fall so we can get us all flying canyon blue sooner rather than later.

In response to the original question, it would be a system-wide bid for any new equipment/qualification. For example, there will be a "base within a base" ETOPS bid group whenever we get enough -800's to start that type of flying. The bid will go system-wide which could produce some crazy results of guys not wanting to fly ETOPS being displaced out of a base to make room for those who do.

blakman7

You can't be serious

Rolf

I am, and don't call me Shirley. If SWA doesn't keep their word, make them! Grey areas of our agreement is grieved all the time. Sometimes we win, sometimes we win less awesome (as in getting our a$$es handed to us) but it clarifies the agrement all the same.
If you guys can show them where they have gone back on their agreement, they will come around. This is GK's baby and he wants it to work.

FAULTPUSH

Over here at Frontier, this all lends a lot of credibility to FAPA's claims that during the (very brief) negotiations over a seniority integration, SWAPA left a lot of grey areas that they wouldn't clarify. SWAPA pilots on this forum vigorously denied those claims of course, but the proof is in the pudding. One of the claims that was denied was that Frontier pilots would be protected from furloughs, especially permanent ones. I'm very concerned about how that might play out over there.

"The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is" - Winston Churchill
(and for you sleuths, I borrowed that quote from someone else)

Herman

Excellant quote!

WHACKMASTER

thank you!!!!

shoelu

My God man, of course there were grey areas, they only negotiated for a nanosecond did you really expect clarity of language in that time frame.

The original T/A provided a one for one furlough clause (1 SWA for 1 AT) REGARDLESS of seniority list order. I think everyone can agree that SWAPA would not have negotiated to that position if they truly believed furloughs were in store. But, that T/A never got to membership ratification.

The current language clearly states:

1. Q. Section I of the Seniority Integration Agreement provides: “Every AirTran pilot’s name appearing on the merged seniority list created pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall remain on the Southwest Master Seniority List until it is removed due to retirement, death, resignation or termination in accordance with the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements.” If an AirTran pilot whose name is on the agreed list is furloughed prior to transition to Southwest, or if prior to his transition, AirTran ceases scheduled flight operations, is sold, whether in whole or in part, or files for bankruptcy, will his or her name remain on the Southwest Master Seniority List?
A. Yes. As long as that AirTran pilot has not retired, died, resigned or been terminated in accordance with the applicable CBA, his or her name will remain on the Southwest Master Seniority List, and he or she will be considered a furloughed Southwest pilot with all of the rights and benefits afforded any other Southwest pilot. Southwest will recall or transition him or her, as the case may be, before offering employment to new hires.

FAULTPUSH

Have there been any side letters which negatively impact the Air Tran pilots since the SLI was voted in?