Quote:
Originally Posted by Brakes Set View Post
So what do you think about my other 6 facts
Here is the post/answer from 1Seat 1Engine
1. I don't accept them as facts.
2. You totally ignore any negative aspects of the merger to any SWA pilots. What would DOH or relative do a SWA career? Where's your FACTS on that side of the equation?
3. Ask yourself honestly how many SWA pilots had pending applications with AT vice AT pilots with applications on file at SWA. Argue all you want but you know the truth of this situation. For many pilots, AT was not a the final career aspiration. The same cannot be said for SWA.
4. AT's vastly younger demographics means that for most pilots, by the end of their careers, they will more than make up for the percentage lost in seniority. These youngsters can look forward to dominating the top of the SWA seniority list in the future.
5. Not everyone was a winner, not everyone was a loser. Everyone is dissatisfied. Sounds like a perfect airline merger to me.
6. At the end of the day, money has value. Seniority don't pay the bills. Money is worth something and the detractors always fail to mention that the majority of AT pilots made more immediately and over the course of a career are vastly better off.
1Seat 1Engine
Here is my answer 1Seat 1Engine
1. Why not?
2. Relative does not effect anyone. Well, ok. If your number 1 at SWA and number 1 at AAI. there can only be 1 number 1. So the AAI pilot is now number 2. If your used to bidding so many lines - you will still be bidding so many lines. It is all relative. Each has a number of pilots for each airplane. The manning was very close to each other. Instead of 10 A/C and 20 pilots you would have had 20 A/C and 40 pilots. No change for the pilots. Yes, SWA had however many A/C vs. AAI but the manning was extremely close. DOH could have been pushed onto the AAI guys probably with a good argument. A guy hired in 96 ( A Captain) put with a SWA pilot hired in 96 (most likely a Captain). Same on up. Had you ever been told that even in Arbitration, Captians don't lose their CA seat?
3. I think it probably would be curious to actually know that number. It is thrown around a lot as FACT (for Shoelu) in various forms or percentages. I would say that listening to many friends at AirTran, there were all kinds of reasons people went there. It depends on the years most likely they were hired. I think it can also be stated ( I mean this as a Fact) many in this industry have found themselves at an Airline that was not their first choice. It worked out out for some and not so much for others. That is my point. A good buddy did not think of AirTran as the final stop early in his career their. But, AirTran ended up being a very good career for him and his family for several years. I never applied to work at Southwest in the 90's. They were some of the lowest paid pilots compared to the Majors. That is a Fact.
4. I don't know the answer to that but I will say this. A loss of 28 or lets state the Fact of 31 % seniority only to be made back after 15 or 20 years! Your position on that is you think that is fair? Most don't. Your 35 with a family and a Captain. What you have had the last 10 years is now replaced. Those vacations you, for 10 years could hold in Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc....will now be gone but in 15 or 20 years you will have the ability to do that again. Go ahead and tell me a little more money is worth that from your family - please, they have not heard that enough. All of us know what QOL MEANS ( FACT ). If I went to my family and said I am going to quit my job tomorrow, no more Family VC in the summer months, or no more 2 weeks off around Thanksgiving and 3 weeks off in December for Christmas/New Years - But, BUT, I am going to make more money. I already make a good living that my family is used to living on.
5. I disagree. I think there are some that are satisfied on BOTH sides.
Do you think a Captain at SWA who has been a Captain for 10-14 years should lose 28% -31% seniority at that point of their career.
Threats were made.. ALPA had a meeting to talk about them.