Originally Posted by
sailingfun
The Delta guys have been through this many times. When I am involved in something new I generally welcome help from those that have done it before. No one has ever seen the type behavior and attempts to ram a seniority list down someones throat like this. In the last Delta merger we did essentially what your doing. Once management stated the merger was happening we negotiated and could not get a agreement. No pressure or threats from either side. We then took the list to arbitration as per the transition agreement. Why is SWAPA so afraid of arbitration? Why so much angst? It just surprises those looking in on the process. Why did SWAPA agree on arbitration in the first place if they intended to avoid it at all costs?
I keep hearing this over and over. What is SWAPA so worried about in the arbitration process? The answer is nothing. What all the outsiders looking in (and I truly believe that includes AirTran) fail to realize is: SWAPA has yet to make an offer on anything! Every offer that has come forth has been from SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, not SWAPA! What you all fail to understand is that I work for a company that has MY best interests at heart. I know it truly is a foreign concept to most of you, but that is in fact the reality. SWAPA is not currently driving this bus, SWA is. When and IF this goes to arbitration, then SWAPA will stand up and make their arguments about how this should be settled. What most of you fail to realize is the fact that SWA has an extremely vested interest in how this goes down. SWA has made a couple of offers to the AT pilots because they want them to join the team. Southwest has offered to pay for the wedding, but that offer has obviously come with strings attached. If you don't want to join the family on a voluntary basis, then SWA may in fact not want you in the family.
The vilification of Southwest pilots on this and many other boards is comical. If I am to be held accountable for the sins of management I am forever doomed to hell. Most of that comes from previous legacy management, but I will certainly attribute some of it to SWA. SWA can at times be completely ruthless, the thing that sets them apart from other management teams is the fact that they are rarely ruthless to their own employees. Here is a newsflash folks, SWA does not yet feel that AT is part of their team. They have extended offers and keep waiting to see if AT will accept one of them. These offers may not be what you are willing to accept, but that truly does not concern them in the grand scheme of things. If you don't come willingly, I am quite sure they have a contingency plan for that eventuality.
To consider that any threats real or fictitious are completely baseless is your own option (that is AT not the Delta boys who find this all so interesting). I am on the SWA current lineup and I am not certain what they have in mind in the long run. To consider that all the posturing is bluster is completely your own option. To also consider that the the bluster is in fact true is also your option.
At this point, my union has not even gotten their feet wet. They are willing to let the company do the heavy lifting on their behalf. Make no mistakes about it though, the pilots of Southwest Airlines have made NO offers at this point.
Please try and realize that SWA wants the AT folks to come to their side, but they will in fact require some cooperation to join in the ballgame. If what they have offered does not meet your criteria then so be it. The choice is certainly yours to make as an individual and a union. Just be prepared for all eventualities that might come in store with those decision.
For now, please keep my union and their pilots out of the path of your hypothesis's. We are currently just sitting back and watching where all this will eventually lead. I have profound faith in my management team to do the best for the company as a whole. When and if this all gets very ugly, I still have profound faith that they will keep my best interests at heart. I know that concept is completely foreign to most of you, that Management has my back, but that is where we currently are at in this long drawn out process. Rest assured AT people, when and if you choose to join the dark side you can also count on them doing their best to protect your best interests. For now, the ball is in your court. Whether you choose to volley it back or let it pass is all YOUR decision. Make no mistakes about the ability for them to choose to go direction that may not be in YOUR best interests at this point.
RANT over. I feel much better.