Originally Posted by
Sr. Barco
OK, it's one guy's perspective....
First off let me say S.L. 10 is pretty harsh, especially compared to S.L. 9. I understand AAI's anger and frustration over the huge difference between the two. Nasty comments from the SWA side of the fence are not helping the situation either. It's easy to demonize SWA pilots but the actions of SWA management and the posts of a few pilots on this board do not represent the attitudes and opinions of the 6,000 SWA pilots.
Now the SWA perspective: S.L.9 fenced AAI pilots in Atlanta for 10 years, seat protected all AAI Captains, immediately put AAI pilots on SWA pay and even gave a 2 year longevity bump to most of the AAI First Officers. We are bewildered as to why AAI is so angry with SWA when S.L. 9 was turned down by your union. It just seems like misdirected anger. Should you not be angry with your MEC and specifically the two guys and girl who were bent on making sure the membership never voted on this?
--S.B.
I think they are angry with their MEC....and probably a bit at SWA for what they considered a low ball offer, when "fair and equitable" was the term for integration. Maybe SWAPA could show some LUV to the Air Tran guys and get rid of the separate pay scale during the next contract negotiations. That might show some solidarity within the pilot ranks. It will be interesting if SWAPA tries to take care of its new members.