Originally Posted by
JungleBus
They couldn't, they needed you to sign off on more jumbo RJ outsourcing to keep the DCI plantation system alive and making them money. You came through for them, and didn't insist on much in the way of raises, partly offset by a decrease in profit sharing, so they gave you a contract early. Turns out all you need to do to get an early contract is sell out the next generation of pilots in exchange for single-digit raises! Silly SWA pilots, why didn't they think of that....
The DCI system would have been in a world of hurt with all the 50 seaters and the new FAA rules not to mention the maintenance issues. They may not have been able to staff the numbers of aircraft they had and it may have imploded eventually on it's own. We gave them a solution that is workable for the time being for as you say, "single digit raises".
How though did we sell out the next generation of pilots and what would have happened if we didn't pass the TA? Was management just going to throw in the towel and put 76 seat flying onto mainline? And is it our responsibility to worry about the next generation of pilots not yet on our list or to worry first about those on the list who have lost so much over the last 12 years? And why are we still hashing over a TA that passed a year ago? When I look around the industry this is a great place to work. Let's move on and figure out how to improve things when the next opportunity comes up.